Western Wall Excavations (photos)

About a week ago, there were reports that excavations at the Western Wall prayer plaza had "uncovered the remains of Jewish homes from the Second Temple period as well as a Herodian water conduit."   

In the photo below, you can see the relation between the excavations and the Western Wall.  While we were there, the crane moved the white container (middle) from the area at left, suggesting that excavations will be extended in that direction.  In fact, you can see the tractor beginning to break up the ground.

In the close-up below, it looks like large hewn slabs (paving stones?) have been removed in order to excavate beneath them. 

My guess is that those large paving slabs are part of the Byzantine "Valley Cardo," which has been discovered to the south. 

 
(Yellow box = present excavations; red box = Byzantine Valley Cardo previously revealed)