In August 2020, a trial excavation was carried out near the Gan Yavne Industrial Zone (Permit No. A-8787; map ref. 631583–750/171858–2022; Fig. 1), prior to development work. The excavation, conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Arim Urban Development Company Ltd., was directed by I. Radashkovsky (field photography, metal detection), with the assistance of Y. Amrani and Z. Lotan (administration), D. Golan, I. Shapira, M. Viesel and K. Serezo (preliminary probing), V. Shustin (area supervision), I. Rosenthal (scientific guidance), I. Jonish (field photography, surveying and photogrammetry), M. Abu (plans), A. Dagot (location map and GPS), A. Bouchenino (pottery), L. Perry Gal (archaeozoology), R. Hoofien (beads), L. Rauchberger (clay tobacco pipe), Y. Gorin-Rosen (glass), L. Kupershmidt (metallurgical laboratory), A. Glick (military artifact), D. Gazit (studio photography) and D. Barkan, Y. Tepper, Y. Arbel, and T. Harpak (scientific consultation). Students from the ‘Mishlama for Yafo’ program and laborers from a manpower company participated in the excavation.
Igal Radashkovsky (Wed,) studied this question.