Descriptive Attribute	Value(s)
Description	Locus 7 is a damaged lateral north-south west staircase between two Retaining Walls (Loci 4 and 6). This was one of the most important finds of 1996. In 1995, the Central Staircase, found to have been cut-off by a retaining wall, was discovered in SP 4; this year's discovery demonstrates to where access shifted after this event. Also, this staircase — though missing in some areas and still not fully freed from overlying rubble in Trench 32 — is better-preserved than the Central Staircase, which is really just bedding. The Lateral West Stairway is constructed of limestone treads, about 0.12 m high and 0.35 m deep, preserved in some 12 steps from the Hexagonal Pavement (Locus 15) to the southern area of the southwest quadrant. Then, the stairs give way to their bedding (Locus 22) and then to overlying rubble (Loci 5 and 9 in Trench 18). The southernmost upper portions of the stairs are in Trench 32. Full excavation and restoration of this staircase should be a goal of a future excavation season.
Phase Description	Phase IV: Nabataean Grand Design: 1st c. BCE to CE 1st c. The remainder of the subterranean canalization is...
Bottom (m)	Closing depth: 899.196 m at north; 899.896 m at center; 900.776 m at south.
Stage	Stage 2
Top (m)	Opening depth: 899.319 m at north; 900.017 m at center; 900.902 m at south.
Definition	Lateral West Staircase.
Stage Description	Construction of the West Staircase and Lower Temenos Retaining wall.
Phase	IV
Architectural or Soil Locus?	Architectural