Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Jerusalem (Givat Shapira; French Hill)Identification: Oren, who excavated the site, did not suggest that the complex was a monastery.Monastery name: Monastery (?)Monastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countryside LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 22,269.0063,451.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 17,269.0013,451.00 Geographical region: Jerusalem (Greater Jerusalem)Provincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: moderate slope Distance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 2.5 km (Jerusalem)Distance from nearest settlement: ca. 2.5 km (Jerusalem)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 1 km from the road connecting Jerusalem with Shechem-Neapolis. Source of knowledgeArchaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Kloner1980 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate Oren1970 Bibliograpy: Oren, E., 1970572-73 Kloner, A., 200185 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 201227 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Uncertain / Questionable General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: A salvage excavation revealed remains of structures surrounded by a wall, remaining to a height of 0.9 m. A row of rooms was found in the western part. Remains of columns and foundations dating to the Roman period were uncovered. General descriptionEnclosing walls: The complex was surrounded by a well constructed wall enclosing an area of 1,000 m2. Storage facilities: A row of rooms with beaten earth floors was uncovered along the western wall. The storage jars found in this area indicate that the rooms were used for storage. See kitchen section. Kitchen: Among the rooms in the western part of the complex, a hall (20 x 7 m) with a beaten earth floor was uncovered. Stone piers that supported arches divided the hall into six spaces. The finds in the hall attest to its use for cooking and storage. Water installations: A cistern was found in the kitchen hall. Agricultural and industrial installations: A winepress collection vat. An oil press was found, including its pressing mechanism and a collection vat. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryStorage jars marked with crosses. Comments, discussion and summary: Oren suggested that the complex was a monastic farm. The absence of a church or any elements that would point to a church prevents an identification of the site as a monastery. The inscribed crosses that were found on the wine press collection vat and on the storage jars may indicate that the complex did actually belong to a monastery. Such a case is known from the monastery of Deir Samwil where jar handles were stamped with the name of the monastery. On the other hand, it may merely indicate that the site and its industrial installations belonged to Christians. Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 1,000Medium StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsEnclosing wallMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location No traces Storage facilities – warehousesKitchenAgricultural installations: oil press\es [=o/p]wine press\es [=w/p]Water installations: CisternsInscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: A complex surrounded by a wall, several rooms including a kitchen and storage hall, a winepress and an olive press.Phase dateCentury: 5th c. Phase dateCentury: Unknown
