Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Beth ha-Shita; Khirbet ShataMonastery name: MonasteryMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countryside LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 240,468.00717,618.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 190,568.001,217,614.00 Geographical region: Beth Shean ValleyProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IIBishopric: ScythopolisTopographical location: Level groundSoils: AlluvialDistance from nearest bishop-seat: 6 km (Beth Shean-Scythopolis)Distance from nearest settlement: 6 km (Beth Shean-Scythopolis)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 1 km north of the road leading westwards from Beth Shean-Scythopolis. Source of knowledgeArchaeological remainsExcavated siteExcavators: NameDate Aharoni Y.1952 Bibliograpy: Aharoni, Y., 1954209-15 Ovadiah, A., 197032-3 Sussman, V., 2004351-68 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The excavation revealed a complex consisting of a courtyard surrounded by eight rooms. Only the northern part of the complex was excavated. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: Although not defined by the excavator, the outer walls of the structure (ca. 20 x 20 m) probably served as the enclosing walls of the monastery. Gate/s: A doorway in the northern wall encompassing the courtyard may have been the main entrance to the monastery. Courtyards: A square courtyard, paved with basalt slabs was located in the center of the complex. Churche/s: The chapel is located southeast of the courtyard. It is well built and plastered inside and out. The chapel is divided into two spaces, both are 4.66 m. wide, the northern space is 0.60 m. longer than the other. The southern space is entered from the northern part of the chapel and is 0.60 m. lower than the other. According to the excavator, it may have served as an auxiliary chapel (diakonikon?). Both parts of the chapel were paved in a fairly coarse mosaic. In the center of the northern space there is a large Greek cross in red, the rest of the mosaic is in white and black. The southern space bears a mosaic in a pattern of squares and various symbols. Dwellings: Five rooms were found northeast of the courtyard. These may have served as the residential part of the monastery although the excavator did not suggest any specific identification. Agricultural and industrial installations: West of the courtyard, a room paved in a coarse white mosaic, contained elements from a winepress . A collection vat was found here (1.35 m. in diameter and 1.50 m. deep), plastered and paved in a white mosaic. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription Inscription - see under epigraphy Metal objectsIron nails, 7-11.5 cm long, possibly from a wooden door. PotterySherds dating to fifth-sixth century CE. GlassFragments of glass dating to fifth-sixth century CE. Stone vesselsA basalt crushing stone. Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 400Small StructureMaterials applied (walls): Basalt ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 1Courtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveDiakonikonGround floor Number of stories: 1Agricultural installations: wine press\es [=w/p] Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: A monastery enclosed by a wall and consisting of several rooms arranged around a courtyard.Dating material: Fifth to seventh centuries CE, based on the pottery, the inscription and the abbreviations in the inscription. Phase dateCentury: 6th-7th c. Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: No Dating material: No remains from later periods were reported. It can be assumed that the monastery was abandoned sometime in the early seventh century CE. Phase dateCentury: 7th c?Within century: First half Post Arab conquest history: Abandoned
