Four layers of sediment (1–4; Figs. 1: Section 1–1; 4) were exposed in the excavation; the upper three layers were discovered in the two excavation areas, and the bottom layer was found only in Area A. Stratum 1, the upper layer (L100 in Area A), was a dark brown alluvium containing several flint items. Stratum 2, a grayish colored sediment (L101 in Area A; Fig. 5), was rich in pale white crystals of calcium carbonate mixed with limestone, river pebbles and numerous abraded and patinated flint items. Stratum 3, a light brown alluvium (L103 in Area A), was mixed with numerous abraded and patinated flint items. Stratum 4, a soft, pale white calcareous soil (L104 in Area A), was mixed with abraded limestone; this was a sterile layer that was discovered in Area A only.
In Strata 2 and 3, 19,421 flint items were collected, including 832 knapped items and 18,589 natural items and raw material (Table 1), most of which were worn and covered with a pale yellow-brown patina. The density of the items in Area A was higher than that in Area B (Table 2). The knapped items were of several different forms of flint, including nodules, “fingers” and tabular flint. The overwhelming majority of artifacts (96%) were of chunks, chips and flint items that were not identified. Some of the knapped items were fashioned using the Levallois technique, characteristic of the Mousterian culture of the Middle Paleolithic period. These include points (Fig. 6); cores (Fig. 7:1–5); blades (Fig. 7:6–11); flakes, some of which are retouched (Fig. 6:12, 13); as well as side scrapers, end scrapers and a large quantity of industrial debitage. The number of tools in the assemblage is small (0.18% of the assemblage, 4.1% of the knapped items). Most of the flint items are abraded and were apparently swept into the site from the hilltop upon which Kibbutz Sha‘ar Ha-‘Amaqim is situated.
 
Table 1. Breakdown of flint items
Type
Number of Items (N)
Percentage of the Assemblage
Percentage of Knapped Items
Tools
34
0.18
4.1
Primary flakes
107
0.55
12.9
Flakes and blades
279
1.44
33.5
Levallois flakes
62
0.32
7.5
Cores
79
0.41
9.5
Levallois core
16
0.08
1.9
Core debitage
255
1.31
30.6
Chunks
16,538
85.16
 
Chips
2,051
10.56
 
Total
19,421
100
100
 
Table 2. Density of the flint items in the excavation areas
Area
Number of Items (N)
Percentage of the Assemblage
A
11,861
61.1%
B
7,560
38.9%
Total
19,421
100.0%