Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Ḥorvat So'a; Khirbet Sa'waMonastery name: MonasteryMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Village LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 198,735.00575,594.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 148,730.0075,594.00 Geographical region: Beer Sheba ValleyProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: EleutheropolisTopographical location: On a steep hill in the eastern Beer Sheba valley.Distance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 41 km (Bet Govrin-Eleutheropolis)Distance from Roman roads: Ca. 10 km from the road connecting Birosaba-Beer Sheba with Hebron. Source of knowledgeArchaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Conder and Kitchener1871-1877 Meshel, Ben Yosef and Dror 1987 Govrin1991 Bibliograpy: Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883409-410 Woolley, C. L. and Lawrence, T. E., 1914-191531; 47 Ovadiah, A., 1970179 Bagatti, B., 1983 Meshel, Z., Ben Yosef, S. and Dror, U., 1987102-03 Govrin, Y., 199197-99 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994234 Figueras, P., 1995417 Bagatti, B., 2002 Hirschfeld, Y., 200484 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012309 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: The church at this site has two entrances, one of which is directly from outside the precinct. This is an unusual feature in the monasteries of Palestine but is often found in the monasteries of Syria. This feature may reflect the use of the church by the local lay community in addition to the monastic community, suggesting close ties between the two. State of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The complex is in a fairly well preserved condition. In some places the walls remain to a height of 2 m. The site has been surveyed but not excavated. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: The site, consisting of a church, a central courtyard and a complex of rooms is contained within a wall (38 x 25 m), enclosing an area of 1200 m2. Gate/s: Entrance was apparently through the northern wall of the church. Courtyards: A central courtyard (17.5 x 13.5 m) is located south of the church with several spacious rooms built on its northern and eastern sides. Tower/s: Next to the entrance stands a tower (8 x 8 m), constructed of very large flint stones and preserved to a height of 2 m. Churche/s: The church is a basilica (40 x 19 m) with an external apse at its eastern end. It is located in the northern part of the complex. The walls were preserved to a height of 2 m. Dwellings: Several rooms was constructed along the northern and eastern sides of the courtyard. Some of these probably contained the dwellings of the resident monks. The specific functions of the various rooms have not been determined. Small finds Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 1,710Medium StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 1Tower/sCourtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location basilicalGround floor 0Inscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The complex consists of a walled precinct, a church, courtyard, tower and rooms.Phase dateCentury: Early Christian / Byzantine Phase dateCentury: Unknown
