The excavations were conducted in the Kishle (in Turkish: barracks) building, south of David's Citadel. The structure functioned as a police station towards the end of the Ottoman period and during the British Mandate, as is attested by the graffiti in Hebrew, English, and Arabic found on the plaster in the structure. It continued to serve as a police station under Jordanian rule.

Six archaeological strata were uncovered:

1. The police station from the periods of Ottoman and British rule;

2. Industrial remains from the medieval period;

3. Retaining walls belonging to the Herodian palace;

4. A drainage system from this palace;

5. The Hasmonean wall from the second century BCE;

6. The wall from the time of King Hezekiah (eighth century BCE)