During December 2006, a trial excavation was conducted at Dabburiya (Permit No. A-4967; map ref. 23581–4/73345–7), prior to construction. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and underwritten by T. Khaled, was directed by Z. Daniel, with the assistance of Y. Ya‘aqobi (administration), V. Essman and V. Pirsky (surveying and drafting), H. Smithline (field photography), M. Zou‘abi (preliminary inspections), G. Beiner (metallurgical laboratory), C. Amit (studio photography), H. Tahan (pottery drawing) and local laborers.
Fragmentary remains and potsherds that dated from the Iron Age to the Ottoman period were exposed in small-scale excavations and surveys that had previously been conducted within the precincts of the village (
HA-ESI 121).
A single square was opened on a chalky slope facing south, alongside a modern terrace (Figs. 1, 2). Two winepresses and cupmarks were exposed and potsherds from the Iron Age and the Hellenistic period were collected.
Terrace (W10; Fig. 3). The terrace extended in a northwest-southeast direction and it was probably abutted from the west by a field wall (W11) that was aligned east–west.
Winepresses. A poorly preserved winepress (L101; 2.5 × 3.5 m; Fig. 4), whose sides and bottom were dressed smooth, was installed within a natural depression in bedrock, southeast of the terrace. A settling pit (L105; diam. 0.35 m, depth 0.35 m) was in the northern part of the winepress and to its west was a niche (L106), blocked by a row of stones, whose function is unclear. A layer of tamped soil mixed with limestone (L104; c. 0.10–0.15 m) was exposed on the floor of the winepress.
Many potsherds were discovered, including the base and upper part of bowls (Fig. 5:1, 2) and a jug (Fig. 5:3) that dated to Iron IIB, as well as a krater (Fig. 5:4), amphorae (Fig. 5:5–8) and jars (Fig. 5:9–12) from the Hellenistic period. Other finds included a bronze pin (Fig. 6), charred olive pits, unidentified organic material and animal bones that consisted mostly of camel teeth and bone fragments.
A hewn recess (L102; 0.30 × 0.45 m, depth 0.25 m; Fig. 7) was located north of Winepress 101 and a large, partly worked triangular stone, whose purpose is unclear, was found next to its eastern side.
A square, partly hewn winepress (L107; c. 1.0 × 1.2 m; Fig. 8) that included a settling pit (diam. 0.15 m) in its northern part was located south of the terrace. A number of cupmarks (0.15×0.17 m in the north, 0.13 × 0.17 m in the middle, 0.14 × 0.20 m in the west; Fig. 9) were exposed above the northwestern side of the winepress and may have been used to secure an installation (a filter?) or pressing devices for extracting olive oil.
Signs of Rock-Cuttings. These were noted west and south of the excavation area and it seems that this area was used as a quarry.