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

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Guérin	1874-75
Conder and Kitchener	1871-1877
Clermont-Ganneau	1896-99
Bar-Adon	1967-68

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Barmaki	1950

Bibliograpy:

Guérin, V., 1875	I: 117-126
Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883	173
Clermont-Ganneau, C., 1896-1899	II: 37-39
Federlin, L., 1903	309-310
Thomsen, P., 1907	48-49
Abel, F. M., 1938	336-37
Schneider, A. M., 1931	50-59
Kelso, J. L., 1951	6-8
Baramki, D. C., 1955	50-52
Avi-Yonah, M., 1954	36-37
Jeffery, A. and Albright, W. F., 1955	53-56
Ovadiah, A., 1970	114-16
Bar-Adon, P., 1972	92-149
Ovadiah, A. and De Silva, C. G., 1981	216-17
Hirschfeld, Y., 1990	50-52, no.33
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	128
Schick, R., 1995
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	285-286

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

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:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Kh. en Nitle- a segment of mosaic (Magen and Kagan 2012 I: 285, no. 146)

Figures

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.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy
Pottery	Sherds
Glass	Fragments of vessels

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Brick

Components

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
single nave			Upper floor

Number of stories:

Water installations:

Cisterns

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
Abandonment

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.

Phase date

Century:

4th-5th c.

Phase name (as published):

Second church

General outline:

The church was rebuilt after having been destroyed sometime in the sixth century CE. The second church was a single nave chapel and smaller than the original church. No mention is made of a monastic complex by the excavator.

Dating material:

Early sixth century (?) Apparently destroyed during the Persian occupation. The excavator did not specify on what his dating was based.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Within century:

Early

Phase name (as published):

Third church

General outline:

After the destruction of the second church in 614 CE during the Persian occupation, the church was rebuilt. Again, no mention was made by the excavator of the monastic complex.

Dating material:

Built sometime between 614-636 CE. No remains of walls were found. The foundations were of large river stones . The church was again reduced in size and seems to have been built of plastered sun-dried bricks. A mosaic pavement was re-laid, an inscription was found in this paving. No mention was made by the excavator of a monastic complex. The excavator suggested that the church was destroyed in the earthquake of 747 (749 CE).

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

First half

Phase name (as published):

Fourth chapel

General outline:

The fourth chapel was constructed of sun-dried bricks and plastered. It had been widened slightly on the north and south. At this stage, some rooms were added abutting the south wall of the church, suggesting the presence of a small monastery. No further details were provided by the excavator.

Dating material:

Based on the pottery.

Phase date

Century:

8th-9th c.

Phase name (as published):

Fifth church

General outline:

The fourth church became a storeroom and a new church was erected above it, on a second story accessed by means of a flight of stairs constructed against the northern wall of the fourth church. The first two stairs were found in situ. The new chapel was constructed of sun-dried bricks.

Dating material:

Based on the pottery found in the debris, the excavator dated the last phase to the ninth century CE.

Phase date

Century:

9th c.

General outline:

The church probably collapsed by itself in the middle of the ninth century and never rebuilt.

Phase date

Century:

9th 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.