During the autumn months of 2000 and 2001 a prehistoric survey was conducted on the southern shore of the Kinneret (License Nos. G-115/2000*, G-75/2001*; NIG 254750-255000/734700-735000; OIG 204750-205000/234700-235000). The survey, on behalf of the Zinman Institute of Archaeology of the University of Haifa, was directed by D. Nadel, assisted by students.
The water level of the lake during these years was especially low. The survey focused on the new beaches that were exposed at elevations lower than 211.5 m below sea level. Except for the shoreline, most of the surveyed area was covered with thick vegetation and no new sites were discovered (see ‘Atiqot 22:1–12 for the survey from 1990). It seems that a thin layer of recent sediment (mainly sand and clay) covered most of the area; therefore, the survey focused on examining little 'islands' opposite the shore of Degania 'A'. No excavations were conducted.
The 'islands' were exposed near the large pipe of the Degania beach and c. 300 m east of the lake’s Jordan River outlet. On the largest 'island' was a conspicuous beach rock that leaned to the east. It contained stones, pebbles, and shells, lumps of clay and even fragments of vegetation that were resting on a layer of pebbles, gravel, shells and sand, which superposed a layer of clay. Similar material could be seen on the small 'islands' that were exposed to the south. Several circles (diam. 2–3 m) built of basalt fieldstones were also noted. A few non-diagnostic pottery fragments were found. During the two seasons, geologists examined the 'islands' and found that they were the remains of alluvial fans, probably of the Yarmukh River.