During January 2009, a salvage excavation was conducted in a cliff west of the 'En Gedi site (Permit No. A-5595; map ref 236740/596718), in the wake of breaching a cave by antiquities robbers. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by A. Ganor (photography and surveying), S. Ganor and U. Hofesh, with the assistance of Y. Nagar (physical anthropology), L. Kupershmidt (metallurgical laboratory), A. Ganor (pottery restoration), O. Shamir (organic materials) and O. Raviv (stone objects). Additional assistance was provided by A. Klein, H. Shechupak and S. Yeshayev (inspectors with the Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery), Y. Zaks (the nature reserve inspector), D. Greenbaum (director of the En Gedi Reserve), D. Nahlieli, Y. Haimi, P. Fabian and inspectors of the Nature and Parks Authority.