reached. The youngest Late Bronze Age Level is completely uncovered. Area II A second area was opened in spring 2006. It is located on one of the highest points of the plateau and is protected by a steep slope to the north. This prominent position is the most outstanding location on the tall. It was chosen because of its potential for yielding administrative and/or cultic buildings. The area was enlarged in spring 2008 to . Up to now a large Roman-Byzantine Dwelling Complex with several building phases was exposed. Area III The third excavation area was prepared for test excavation in the south of the tall in 2007. There is a Roman-Byzantine villa rustica (in an oriental version) expected. In a test trench (5 m x 1 m) excavated in 2007, a paved floor of the Roman Villa with a door way, a door hinge stone (out of context) and a water collecting basin near the door way (in situ) came to light. A large cistern (11 m x 6 m x 5.75 m) accessible through a hole in the roof, has already been explored in 2001. Its inner surface is covered by an eight centimetre thick plaster lining. Summary of the results until spring 2008 Early Bronze Age City wall, Test trench on the western slope Middle Bronze Age At least two strata, habitation, test trench on the western slope Late Bronze Age At least three strata Middle stratum, City wall, water channel - Excavation Latest stratum 1450–1300 BCE (C14 dated) Casemate wall, tower with sanctuary, gate, water channels, three residential buildings, two monumental representative building with a hoard of 23+5 cylinder seals, silver pendant, scarabs, beads etc. - Excavation Iron I 12th–11th century BCE (C14 dated) Two large buildings (a "four room house" and a courtyard house) and agricultural activities (silos, huts, stables) - Excavation Iron II 10th–8th century BCE (C14 dated) Fortified city, “zigzag wall”, buildings in an agglomerated system, workshops - Excavation Late Hellenistic-Early Roman Pits - Excavation Roman-Byzantine(-Umayyad) 1st–7th century CE Large, densely inhabited site; Villa rustica; (later) also fortified - Excavation Middle Islamic Some houses and agricultural activities-Survey Late Islamic Some houses and agricultural activities-Survey Ottoman Some houses and agricultural activities-Report of Schumacher History Early Bronze Age The survey of the tall showed a high concentration of Early Bronze Age pottery in Area I. However, only the outer layer of a massive 2.2 m