Khirbet el-Mahma - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Khirbet el-Mahma

Monastery name:

Monastery

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Village

Former fortress

Former ruin

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

21,336.00

64,325.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

16,336.00

14,325.00

Geographical region:

Southern and Western Samaria

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

On an elongated hill overlooking Nahal Modi'im

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 18 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 2 km north of the road connecting Jerusalem with Lod-Diospolis.

Source of knowledge

Hide Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Kochavi	1967-68
Magen and Finkelsteirn	1993
Finkelstein, Lederman and Bunimovitz	1997

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Har-Even	2005

Bibliograpy:

Kochavi, M. and Ovadiah, R., 1972	180
Magen, Y. and Finkelstein, I., 1993	59-60
Finkelstein, I., Bunimvitz, S. and Lederman, Z., 1997	I: 322-23
Magen, Y., 2008	257-343
Har-Even, B., 2012	363-72
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	258-60

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

Discussion:

The excavator suggested identifying the site as a monastery based on the various components such as a wall surrounding a complex of structures, a tower and a church. However, the strange location of the church, outside the precinct, casts a strong doubt as to this identification. It is more likely that the church served as a parochial church. If the site was indeed a monastery, one would expect to find a chapel well inside the boundaries of the monastery. Considering that the complex was only partially excavated, it is not beyond reason that further investigation would locate a church within the precinct, thus confirming the identification.

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The northeastern wing of the complex, including a Roman period tower were excavated. The central wing of the complex was measured but not explored. The church survived only partially, its northern aisle having been washed down the slope.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Kh. el Mahma- general plan of the site (Har-Even 2012: 363, Fig. 1)

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Enclosing walls:

The complex was surrounded by an enclosing wall that had survived to a height, in some places, of 6-7 courses. Its measurements were not provided. The structure within the enclosing wall apparantly consisted of three separate wings. The western wing was apparently enclosed by a massve wall. It is not clear if this was separate from the enclosing wall of the rest of the complex.

Courtyards:

The western part of the complex (20 x 13 m) was deemed by the excavatores to have been a courtyard, as no walls were visible on the surface. A large courtyard was located near the church.

Tower/s:

A massive tower, constructed in an earlier phase, was reused in the monastery phase, forming the northeastern wing of the complex. This was located on the summit of the spur on which the complex stood. Some rooms adjoined the tower on the south.

Churche/s:

The church, a basilica measuring 19 x 11.2 meters, was located outside the propsed monastery complex. The church included a narthex, a prayer hall with a nave and two aisles and an interior apse flanked by two pastophoria. The church was paved with a crude white mosaic featuring simple, colorful geometric designs of which very little remained.

Burials:

A partially built cist tomb was found in the northwestern corner of the narthex. The tomb (1.70 x 0.75 and 1.60 m deep) was apparently lined with stone slabs, these were not found.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

In the sixth century, a room that served as an improved winepress was added east of the tower.

In the early Islamic period, the winepress was converted into an olive oil press.

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Detailed description

Dimensions:

Size class
Large

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Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

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Enclosing wall

Tower/s

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
basilical	Diakonikon		Ground floor

Tombs type:

Cist tomb

Retaining walls

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

wine press\es [=w/p]

Architectural evolution

Phase name (as published):

Phase III

General outline:

The Byzantine complex was established over the remains of a Second Temple period settlement and incorporated a late Roman period tower. A basilical church and improved winpress were added at this stage.

Dating material:

Dated by the excavators to the Byzantine period. The only slightly more specific date provided was the addition of the winepress in the sixth century CE.

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Century:

6th c.

Phase name (as published):

Phase IV

General outline:

The compound remained in use at the beginning of the Early Islamic period. At this time some changes were made in the form of partition walls added to various wings of the complex. The church continued in use at this time. The winepress was converted into an oil press, the collection vat being cut into the earlier mosaic floor.

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Century:

7th-8th c.

General outline:

The church ceased to function sometime in the Abbasid period, indicating that the monastery also no longer functioned. The oil press had been converted into a slaughter house and the site was abandoned sometime towards the end of the ninth century CE.

Dating material:

An abundance of animal bones indicates a slaughterhouse where the olive press had been.

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Century:

8th c.

Within century:

First half

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

A Christian population continued to exist at the site in the early years of the Arab conquest and the church remained in use. The wine press ceased to function and was converted into an olive press. Apparently, the Christian population abandoned the site sometime in the first half of the eighth century and it became a slaughter house in the Abbasid period.

Conclusions:

The location of the church outside the main precinct casts a doubt on the identification of the site as a monastery.