In November–December 2007, a trial excavation was conducted along the route of the Jerusalem separation fence near the Shu‘fat–‘Anata refugee camp (Permit No. A-5303; map ref. 223448–535/634849–905). The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Ministry of Defense, was directed by I. Zilberbod, with the assistance of R. Abu Halaf (administration), V. Essman, M. Kipnis, M. Kunin and T. Kornfeld (surveying and drafting) and the Sky View Company (aerial photography).
Two main quarrying areas, a northern one (A) and a southern one (B), were separated by the remaining natural bedrock surface. Area A (c. 50 sq m; Fig. 3) was near the top of the slope, and comprised as many as five quarrying steps (depth c. 2 m; Fig. 1: Section 1–1). Area B (c. 550 sq m; Fig. 4) comprised up to three quarrying steps (depth c. 1.5 m; Fig. 1: Section 3–3). Evidence of stone severing and quarrying channels (width and depth c. 0.2 m) were preserved in both areas. Pottery sherds dating to the Early Islamic period were found in an accumulation of soil and stones that covered the quarries. No finds were discovered in the quarrying debris. An opening (L108; c. 0.5 × 0.5 m) to a bell-shaped karstic cave (L109; 2 × 3 m, depth c. 1.5 m) was found near the northwestern corner of Quarry A. No signs of rock-cuttings were discerned in the cave, nor were any artifacts discovered in it. A narrow opening (L117; width 0.8 m, depth 1.2 m) of another karstic cave (L118; 1.2–1.5 × 4.5 m, depth 1.0–1.4 m; Fig. 1: Section 2–2) was found at the bottom of a bedrock cliff in the southwestern part of Quarry B. Karstic hollows were exposed in the walls of the cave. A third karstic cave (L100; c. 2.0 × 3.5 m; height c. 1.5 m; Fig. 1: section 4–4) was exposed c. 15 m to the northwest. This quarry is just one of many other quarries located north of ancient Jerusalem, where building stones were produced for the nearby settlements.