Jaffa is one of the most ancient cities in Israel and has undergone various excavations since 1948. In the 1950s, the late archaeologist J. Kaplan had uncovered remains of a biblicial period settlement on Tel Jaffa. In the 1970s Kaplan first discovered the remains of the sea walls, later reexcavated on behalf of the IAA. In the 1990s R. Avner and several other archaeologists of the IAA excavated graves dating to a number of periods in the southern cemetery of Jaffa, as well as Hellenistic and Roman buildings in Kikar Qedummim.

In October 2002, during reconstruction operations in the area of the Flea Market, carried out by the Tel Aviv Municipality and the Ministry of Tourism, several salvage excavations were undertaken by the IAA. It was established that the area between Yefet Street and Yehudah Me-Raguza Street was already settled during the Hellenistic period. This area also yielded finds from the Byzantine, Early Islamic, Crusader and Ottoman periods.

During the Byzantine period the area was industrial, in which took place the production of  wine and other goods which were then exported via the city’s harbor.  Several installations, including winepresses and color-dying facilities were uncovered. In the Early Islamic period the area continued to be used for industrial purposes, but less so. During the Crusader period,  buildings were constructed on one axis, pointing to a high level of city planning. It seems that the Crusader city of Jaffa was divided into quarters according to the different Orders, similar to other Crusader cities, e.g., Acre. Crusader Jaffa was destroyed by the Mamluks, and the area of the Flea Market was abandoned untill the beginning of the Otoman period. During this latter period the area was used for growing the famous Jaffa oranges. This was attested by the watering systems, wells and farmhouses unearthed by the excavations. Later, the market was built on the site, and only during the British Mandate was it designed the way it is  today.