Khirbet en-Nitle - GALGALA

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Monastery name, type, category
Site Name: 
Khirbet en-Nitle
Identification: 
Kh. en Nitle is located near Juljuliyeh, identified with - GALGALA, where according to tradition the Israelites placed a circle of twelve stones after they had crossed the Jordan River (Josh. 2, 1-9). The site is marked on the Madaba map and was mentioned by the Pilgrim of Placentia. It was first identified by Guérin.
Monastery name: 
GALGALA
Monastery type: 
Cenobium
Monastery category: 
Desert
Pilgrims
Source of sacredness: 
Old Testament site
Sacred Objects
Location
Coordinates, ITM system: 
24,650.00
63,790.00
Coordinates, ICS system: 
19,650.00
13,790.00
Geographical region: 
Southern Jordan Valley
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina I
Bishopric: 
Regio Jericho
Topographical location: 
Level ground
Soils: 
Marl
Distance from nearest bishop-seat: 
3 km (Jericho)
Distance from nearest settlement: 
3 km east of Jericho
Distance from Roman roads: 
Near the Jordan Valley road.
Source of knowledge
Epigraphy
Hide Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors: 
NameDate
Guérin
1874-75
Conder and Kitchener
1871-1877
Clermont-Ganneau
1896-99
Bar-Adon
1967-68
Excavated site
Excavators: 
NameDate
Barmaki
1950
Discussion: 
The Madaba map shows two rows of six stones eack and a church, marking the site of Galgala with a second name attached to it (Dodekalithon [twelve stones]), the traditional place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. According to Eusebius (on.), Galgala is two miles east of Jericho and Adamnanus places it five miles from the city. In the 8th century, the pilgrim Willibald placed the site some five miles from the Jordan and two miles from Jericho. Schneider identified the remains with those at Khirbet el-Mafjar. The church is mentioned by the sources but a monastery is not. In spite of this omission, Guérin, Conder and Kitchener, and Féderlin all reported finds that may point to the existence of a monastery. Due to agricultural work, the site has been completely destroyed preventing any further investigation.
State of certainty: 
Literarily definitive
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered: 

In the excavation, parts of a church were uncovered:  foundations of an atrium, part of the southern aisle, a square apse and segments of a colorful mosaic. A six line inscription was also revealed.

Illustrative material: 
Hide General description
Churche/s: 

The church underwent five stages. In its fifth stage it was constructed on the second story.

Dwellings: 

Hermits' cells were identified by Féderlin.

Water installations: 

A large reservoir was located in the complex.

Hide Small finds
Small finds: 
CategoryDescription
Inscription - see under epigraphy
Pottery
Sherds
Glass
Fragments of vessels
Detailed description
Hide Structure
Materials applied (walls): 
Brick
Hide Components
Monastery church: 
Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location
single nave
Upper floor
Number of stories: 
2
Water installations: 
Cisterns
Architectural evolution
Phase name (as published): 
First church
General outline: 
A basilical church was constructed at the site. It is not known if a monastery existed at this point. A mosaic pavement with geometric designs in a poor state of preservation was uncovered, including a six line inscription.
Dating material: 

fourth or fifth century CE.

Hide Phase date
Century: 
4th-5th c.
Post Arab conquest history: 
Modified
Post conquest history comments: 
Although the church continued to function and was rebuilt and modified several times, there is no dependable information concerning a monastery. The excavator wrote: "The pottery found on the site bears out this hypothetical reconstruction of the history of the church". No mention is made of a monastery. Since the monastic complex had apparently not been excavated, no information can be retrieved concerning its foundation, size etc. The possibility that a monastery existed only in the fourth phase of the site is not to be overlooked.