The primary aim of the 2024 project was to conserve the IA17 installation and the RE01 architecture, along with its two adjacent rooms from the 2010–2012 field seasons, as part of a five-year conservation plan for Ataruz. In addition, a drone survey was conducted for site mapping, and a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey was undertaken to investigate the potential of detecting and analyzing underground caves.

Conservation

Under the long-term conservation plan and collaboration with SELA, the team preserved the RE01 house. Old cement mortar was removed and replaced with lime mortar, which was deemed more suitable following tests in 2023. Although the building has remained mostly intact since its excavation about 15 years ago, the mortar switch was needed for better preservation.

The Moabite Sanctuary (RE01) in Square E1 was conserved. Next, the team backfilled a large Iron II room (RA18/RE02) east of RE01, excavated from 2011 to 2013. The room was filled to a 30–50 cm depth with fine dirt sifted from the excavated areas. North of RE01 is the IA17 installation—an altar at the east end of the Iron IIA temple’s courtyard, resting on bedrock and standing a single course high. The top was leveled with flat stones and filled with fine sand from the courtyard. In Field G, we restored the large stone-paved plaza in Square G11 by replacing the flat stones that had been temporarily removed in 2022 and filling the gaps.

Time constraints limited Fields E and F's work to only the northern third of Square F5. We plan to backfill this area to create a future visitor’s path. Similarly, we intended to open Square E9 but could not. Both areas will eventually host a visitor platform with signage, and we hope to start work east of E7 and between Fields E and F in 2025.

Lastly, the project team cleared weeds and debris from the excavated areas, including Iron II and Islamic remains in Fields A, E, and F, as well as the monumental staircase in Field G. In Square A28, the eastern balk—deteriorating since its 2012 excavation—was partially removed, with the remaining cleanup planned for 2025.

Field E Excavations

In 2024, the project team reopened existing squares in Fields E, F, and G—namely Squares E7, E8, F5, G11, and the balks of G9 (shared with G13)—but did not open any new squares.

Earlier excavations in E7 revealed two wall lines (Wall E7:13) and a 1 × 2 m rectangular stone installation two meters south of this wall. This season’s primary goal was to excavate the southern half of the square to see whether Wall E7:13 continued south. The wall runs in a northwest direction. Excavations showed Wall E7:13 has two phases, ending roughly 50 cm north of the square’s southern balk, where it turns east at a 90-degree angle. This termination suggests a possible link to the large stone structure in G11, believed to be a rectangular, paved plaza where the monumental staircase from Field G meets the Iron II temple’s outer courtyard.

About two meters west of the southwest corner of Wall E7:13, excavators uncovered an elliptical stone installation (E7:L34), measuring 1 × 2 m and standing about 30 cm above the beaten earth floor (E7:L36). Like a storage bin, it yielded minimal bones and pottery sherds, similar to a square-shaped structure found in G6 in 2018. Based on pottery from E7:L35, Installation E7:L34 dates to Iron IIB, along with the upper courses of E7:L31 and the wall (E7:L10) in the square's northwest corner. The lower portion of E7:L34 correlates with the E7:L24 structure discovered in 2022.

Five floor layers were identified in E7, two of which (L25, L27) are nari floors. Pottery sherds and animal bones throughout the loci date to the Iron IIA–Iron IIB period.

Square E8, located northwest of E7, was opened in 2022, revealing five walls (E8:7, 13, 16, 30, 36), all built on bedrock. In 2024, we reopened a narrow strip between Wall 13 and the square’s northern balk. This newly excavated area contained five layers of beaten earth floors or hard surfaces, some partially paved with flat stones. A standing stone was found in the northern balk, and an upright wall was detected within the southern balk. Both appear related to the lower stone-paved floor. Pottery evidence suggests the stratigraphy matches that on the south side of Wall 13, placing these surfaces in the Iron IIA–Iron IIB period.

Field G Excavations

Following site cleanup, excavations commenced in Square G11 along the southern side near Wall 13, a spine wall of the monumental staircase. Beneath a thick layer of rock tumble and debris, the team found a small Mid-Islamic installation (G11:L16). Below it lay approximately 50 cm of compact orange soil (G11:L26–28), with few pottery sherds or bones. Two late Iron IIB layers (G11:L26 and G11:L27) emerged within the orange soil. The occupant of the upper floor appears to have fashioned a narrow 50 cm-wide doorway (G11:L32) by removing part of the monumental staircase and placing two steps leading to the floor.

Next, the team removed the north balk of G8 (shared with G11) to facilitate backfilling G11 and to examine connections with the staircase east of G8 (the IG03 installation), which was initially exposed in 2019. We uncovered two early Iron IIB floors underneath the late Iron IIB floors mentioned above. Further excavation in G11 confirmed that the monumental staircase on the eastern slope was built on bedrock and compact soil. The area around the stairs in Square G8 was also excavated during the G8 balk removal. Diagnostic sherds from this staircase date to the 9th century BCE, indicating that this stepped structure was part of the Iron IIA monumental staircase rather than a feature of the later Iron IIB house. Subsequently, we backfilled the southern half of G11 and the Iron IIB room in G9.

 Field F Excavations

Field F was partially excavated about a decade ago, with Square F4 fully excavated then, and Squares F1–F3 and F5 either partially cleared or only surface-cleaned. This area is critical for constructing a future visitor passage, as the main section will pass through it. Therefore, we reopened Square F5, although only part was re-excavated this season due to time constraints. Excavations revealed two possible additional wall lines, along with the one exposed in 2017; all appear to date to the late Iron IIB period. Field F excavations will continue next year.

Ground Penetrating Radar and Drone Survey Projects

In 2022, the Ataruz excavation project welcomed John McBride, who employed GPR to survey three key areas: the northern section of Field E, a natural terrace in the southeastern corner, and the southern defense wall lines west of Field B. In 2024, Dr. McBride shifted his focus to the northern foothill of Ataruz, aiming to distinguish underground caves from other subsurface features. Since caves—often adapted for dwelling—are numerous at Khirbat Ataruz, the team conducted 3D scans of select caves and compared these models with new GPR data from the surface.

On July 4, the project also carried out a drone survey with support from the American Center of Research (ACOR) and Chickmania, a Jordanian drone and film company. A total of 668 images were captured in a cross-grid flight pattern over the site, achieving a ground sample distance (GSD) of 1.72 cm and maintaining an overall error below 2 cm. These data yielded a high-resolution 3D model, an orthomosaic image as a base map, and a Digital Elevation Model. The new imagery will integrate with previous photogrammetric work, creating a robust platform for ongoing research and documentation.

 Summary and Future Plan

The 2024 Ataruz project focused on conserving and excavating the Iron II–period remains of Khirbat Ataruz. Key objectives included replacing old cement mortar with lime mortar, stabilizing significant architectural remains such as the IA28 altar installation and RE01 building, and backfilling sections of the excavated areas. Besides, although limited in scope, excavations in Fields E, F, and G uncovered various Iron II structures, including walls, floors, and installations. The discovery of a rectangular stone-paved plaza associated with the monumental staircase offers new insights into the site’s layout. A Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey also continued, targeting the many caves under the site to improve future excavation strategies.

Looking ahead to 2025, the team plans to return for additional conservation—particularly in Field A—and further backfilling and cleanup. Squares in Fields D, E, and F that remained unexcavated this year will be a priority, alongside two or three new squares. These plans will align with the long-term conservation vision, involving the construction of a visitor platform, pathways, and signage to promote site preservation and visitor engagement.