The perimeter of the 3 x 6 m trench of Gate Operation 1 ('Gate OP 1' or 'GOP1' EDIT: RENAMED 'ET2') was established at the northeast sector of the Tsaghkahovit hill slope. Today involved staking, cutting perimeter sod, and removing half the sod. The trench covers the width of the gate (3 m), from the gate entrance to the interior (6 m). Inside the gate, there is a circular formation of large stones. ET2 (East Terrace 2) covers the lower-left quadrant of this formation. It could be the remnants of a gatehouse, owing to its position near the gate (~2 m). After locus 1 (sod and topsoil) are cleared, locus 3 will represent the matrix inside of the 'gatehouse', and locus 2 will be the inside of the gatehouse. Subsequent loci inside the gatehouse will be odd-numbered, and those outside will be even-numbered.
The eastern cornerstone of the gate is worked to more prominently define its sides and corners. The gate is overlooked by the two closest terraces to the south, up the slope. The gate itself overlooks a probable route of entry from the plain proper. This route of entry was previously explored via magnetometer in 2008, which yielded stair-like anomalies. The entry route is lined with boulders, some of which have basins carved out, perhaps to hold oil for fires. The gate entrance is surrounded by linear surface architecture formed by large boulders, most likely walls.
Most finds are potsherds, with a similar but lesser amount of obsidian, and a scant amount of bones.