Khirbet Ḥaiyan - Monastery (?)

Vertical tabs

Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Khirbet Ḥaiyan

Identification:

Identified tentatively (TIR), as Aialon, a village mentioned by Eusebius (On. 18: 14), where Joshua performed his miracle (Josh. 10: 12-14).

Monastery name:

Monastery (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

22,560.00

64,580.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

17,560.00

14,580.00

Geographical region:

Samaria Desert Fringes

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

On the lower end of a ridge.

Soils:

Rocky limestone

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 15 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

0.5 km south of Deir Dibwan.

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 3 km from the road connecting Jerusalem with Shechem-Neapolis

Source of knowledge

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Conder and Kitchener	1871-77
Kallai	1967-68
Magen and Finkelstein	1993

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Callaway	1969

Bibliograpy:

Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1882	113
Callaway, J. A. and Nicol, M. B., 1966	12-19
Callaway, J. A., 1970	393-94
Kallai, Z., 1972	178-79
Wilkinson, J., 1977	158
Bagatti, B., 1979
Ovadiah, A. and De Silva, C. G., 1981	235
Magen, Y. and Finkelstein, I., 1993	183
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	59
Bagatti, B., 2002	34-35
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	244

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

The complex was described as a monastery by the excavator although the plan, apart from the church, is speculative. There is no certainty that a monastery actually existed at the site.

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

Only the church was excavated.

General description

Churche/s:

The church was paved with a white mosaic pavement. Monolithic column fragments were found nearby. A maqam was constructed over the apse of the church at a later period.

Dwellings:

Dwelling rooms were uncovered next to the church.

Burials:

Some tombs were found in the vicinity.

Stable:

A stable was reported by the excavator, near the church.

Water installations:

A reservoir was found nearby.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

A winepress was found in the vicinity.

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
			Ground floor

Dwelling type:

cells

Stable

Agricultural installations:

wine press\es [=w/p]

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

General outline:

A church with dwelling rooms, a stable and a winepress.

Dating material:

Fifth century CE, based on the finds.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

General outline:

According to the excavator, the monastery was rebuilt in the sixth century CE.

Dating material:

Based on the finds.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

General outline:

The monastery probably ceased to function in the Early Islamic period.

Phase date

Century:

Unknown

Post conquest history comments:

Apparently the site retained its sanctity, as an Islamic holy site was erected in its place, over the apse of the church.