During June–July 2002 a salvage excavation was conducted along the eastern fringes of Tel Malot (Permit No. A-3641; map ref. NIG 18742–50/64034–46; OIG 13742–50/14034–46), prior to working on the railroad track from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, was directed by G. Parnos, with the assistance of D. Sklar and O. Segal (area supervision), R. Abu Khalaf and H. Lavi (administration), V. Essman, A. Hajian, V. Pirsky, T. Kornfeld and I. Berin (surveying and drafting), T. Sagiv (photography), I. Bukengolts (pottery restoration), N. Ze’evi (pottery drawing), L. Kupershmidt (metallurgical laboratory), D.T. Ariel (numismatics) and R. Kehati (archaeozology).