Khirbet ed-Duweir - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Khirbet ed-Duweir

Monastery name:

Monastery

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Former fortress

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

21,232.00

60,911.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

16,232.00

10,911.00

Geographical region:

Hebron Hills

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Hilltop

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 29 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

ca. 1.5 km (Caparbaricha).

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 1 km west of the road leading from Thecoa to the eastern Negev.

Source of knowledge

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Batz and Sharukh	1995-1996

Bibliograpy:

Magen, Y., 2008	217-46
Batz, S. and Sharukh, I., 2012	61-106
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	190

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site was excavated extensively, revealing the remains of a complex where five phases of occupation were discerned. In places, the encompassing wall survived to a height of eight courses (3 m).

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Khirbet ed Duweir view from the west (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

Kh. ed Duweir - the oven (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

A staircase to the upper floor- view from the south (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

Figures

Reconstruction of the monastery (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

Khirbet ed-Duwier- plan of the site (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

General description

Enclosing walls:

The enclosing walls of the Roman fortress were 51 x 30 m, surrounding an area of 1,530 m²

Gate/s:

The entrance to the monastery was on its western side, it led to a roofed corridor and a wall enclosed courtyard.

Courtyards:

Two stone-paved courtyards with rooms to their north were part of the original Roman fortress, adapted for use during the monastic phase.

Tower/s:

The complex included a tower in its southwestern corner. Changes were made in the tower in the monastic phase. The second story was apparently residential, reached by a staircase adjoining the tower's northeastern corner.

Churche/s:

The church was on the second story as is indicated by sections of mosaic paving, marble elements and stones carved with crosses that had fallen into the area below. Its location was apparently over the area that contained the reservoir of the previous phase.

Dwellings:

Remains of collapsed white mosaic paving on the tower floor indicate a residential area on the second story.

Refectory:

The second story apparently housed the refectory (10.5 x 5 m). A staircase that led to the upper floor was found west of the courtyard, with four steps found in situ.

Kitchen:

Rooms north of courtyard B (the western courtyard of the earlier phase) reveal evidence of a rectangular hall containing dining vessels, indicating that it served as the monastery’s kitchen. The hall had three arches that had supported a second story.

Baking oven:

An oven was constructed in the previous phase's courtyard B. The oven is oval, its inner surface comprised a fill of beaten earth with a baked clay covering. The interior was lined with clay tiles rising to a dome shape.

Stable:

The lower story of the tower had a beaten earth floor, indicating, according to the excavators, that it was used for stabling animals.

Water installations:

The water conservation system: in the Early Roman period three bell-shaped cisterns and a fourth, elliptical one, were hewn. Rock cut channels led to all the cisterns. The cisterns and channels continued to serve the site in the periods that followed. A miqvwe (Jewish ritual bath) constructed in the Early Roman period was modified to serve as a cistern by blocking the staircase leading down to it, and a hole breached in its roof to allow access to the water.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

A hewn winepress was discovered west of the complex. It has a treading floor (5 x 4.5 m) and an oval collecting vat 3 x 1.5 x 0.4 m deep (1.8 m³ capacity).

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	The ceramic finds from the Late Roman and Early Byzantine period (third to fifth centuries CE) are scant. The majority of the pottery assemblages are dated to the Byzantine and Early Islamic period (sixth to eighth centuries CE): domestic vessels and quite a few imported vessels including FBW; storage vessels;
Stone vessels	Fragments of two liturgical bowls of marble; two stone chalices engraved with decorations reflecting Christian iconography (refectory area): a chalice with a high narrow base adorned with Maltese crosses; the second chalice has incised decorations (a bird, the legs of a second bird, and a partially preserved fish). Two rectangular stone basins; grinding stones (probably connected with flour production). Ball-shaped weights; stone mugs (dated to the Second Temple period); Storage jar stoppers. Two lower hand millstones; another millstone (1.25 m diameter – “donkey mill”) and a fragment of an upper millstone of the same type.
Coins	51 coins were found representing the different occupation periods of the site.
Glass	Glass vessels dated to the sixth century CE
Other	Roof tiles were found in most of the rooms as well as ceramic tiles that lined the oven’s interior walls.
Metal objects	Fragments of a candelabrum and candlesticks retrieved from the rubble in the chapel area.
Other	Small artifacts in stone, bone and ivory.

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Plate inscribed with a cross (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

Liturgical vessel (Batz and Sharukh 2012: 61-80)

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
1,530	Medium

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Tower/s

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
unknown			Upper floor

Refectory

Dwelling type:

cells

Number of stories:

Kitchen

Baking oven

Stable

Agricultural installations:

wine press\es [=w/p]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Phase III

General outline:

In this phase, a fortified Late Roman complex was converted into a monastery. Rooms were added and the height of the tower was raised by adding new courses to the outer walls. Some other structural changes were made in the tower. A church and refectory were constructed on the second story. The main entrance was apparently moved from the eastern side of the complex to its western side.

Dating material:

Sometime in the sixth century CE, based on the pottery assemblage and other finds.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Phase name (as published):

Phase IV

General outline:

This phase is characterized by minor structural additions and changes.

Dating material:

Architectural considerations

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

Late

Phase name (as published):

Phase V

General outline:

According to the excavators, the monastery continued to serve until the end of the seventh century or early eighth century CE.

Dating material:

Based on the pottery.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

Early

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

In the Early Islamic period the monastery was abandoned. It was re-occupied by a non-Christian population, probably after 749 CE. Some modifications were made to the structures that were in use. A few shards and two coins testify to a short period of use during the Mamluk period.