A hewn square entrance (0.5

× 0.5 m) in the southern wall of the cave (Fig. 1) was discovered blocked with a large stone; a high plastered step descended from the entrance to a burial chamber (1.6 × 1.7 m). A niche and a burial trough were hewn in three of the chamber’s walls. The burial chamber was plastered to the top of the niches, as well as inside them and the troughs. The plaster was orange colored and contained ground potsherds. Poorly preserved bones, not articulated, of at least eight individuals were revealed in the troughs. Trough I contained at least two individuals, among them a man and a woman, one of whom was 17–19 years of age. At least five individuals were placed in Trough II, within the ages of 6–8 years, 12–16 years, 40–50 years and another adult individual who was older than 20 years of age; among the adult individuals a man and a woman were identified. At least one individual, 20–30 years of age, was in Trough III. The articulated remains of another individual, 50–60 years of age, were uncovered in the middle of the burial chamber and were apparently intentionally covered with fieldstones.

 

The burial chamber yielded ceramic finds, including a large bowl (Fig. 2:1), a lid for a cooking krater (Fig. 2:2) and lamps (Fig. 2:3–5), characteristic of the Late Byzantine period, as well as a small fragment of a bronze bracelet. The base of a lamp (Fig. 2:6) and another lamp (Fig. 2:7), dating to the Early Islamic period, were recovered from Trough III. Based on the plan and the ceramic finds the cave should be dated to the end of the Byzantine period and the Early Islamic period.