In June-July 2012, a salvage excavation was conducted at the Bir ez-Zagh site in Ramat Bet Shemesh (Permit No. A-6538; map ref. 198926-9106/624142-286) prior to construction. The excavation, conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was directed by Y. Paz, with the assistance of N. Nahama (administration), A. Hajian and M. Kunin (surveying and drafting), Y. Yolowitz (photography), O. Ackerman (geomorphology), T. Kornfeld (plans), I. Lidski-Reznikov (artifact drawing), C. Amit (studio photography), A. Ecker (reading of inscription), as well as D. Ben-Ami, A. Golani, E. Kogan-Zehavi, Y. Stad, Z. Turjeman , S. Gendelman, N. German and P. Betzer.