Khirbet Handumah; Khirbet Handoma - ASPABETH-PETER(?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Khirbet Handumah; Khirbet Handoma

Identification:

The excavators suggested identiying the site as the church built for the tribe of Saracens described by Cyril of Scythopolis (V. Euthy. 15).

Monastery name:

ASPABETH-PETER(?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Desert

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

23,300.00

63,325.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

18,300.00

13,325.00

Geographical region:

Judean Desert

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Level ground

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 10 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 2 km south of the road connecting Jerusalem and Jericho.

Source of knowledge

Literary sources

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Hirschfeld	1983

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Sion	1991-1992

Bibliograpy:

Federlin, P., 1907	177-84
Hirschfeld, Y., 1984	42-44
Sion, O., 1992	279-87
Sion, O., 1993	65-66
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	61-62

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site consists of structures built on the northern and western sides of a large courtyard. A second, large elliptical courtyard is located to the south.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Kh. Handoma- remains of the structure (Magen and Kagan 2012 II: 61-62)

Figures

Kh. Handoma - general plan of the site (Magen and Kagan 2012 II: 61, no. 195)

General description

Enclosing walls:

The outer walls of the main structure apparently form part of the encompassing wall of the complex. The stone fence surrounding the second courtyard to the south may have served the same purpose.

Gate/s:

The entrance to the complex is from the south.

Courtyards:

In the northern part of the complex there is a structure with a square central courtyard paved in stone flags with six rooms on its northern and western sides. The eastern and southern sides are closed in by walls. All the rooms are accessed from the courtyard. A second courtyard is located south of the main structure. It is horseshoe-shaped (app. 32 x 29 m) and surrounded on its southern and western sides by a stone fence. The courtyard is divided into two levels, the southern level being lower.

Churche/s:

The second story, which was built over the long hall, was paved in a colorful mosaic (white, blue, black and red) as attested to by the remains. The church was most likely on the second story, a staircase attests to the second story's existence.

Dwellings:

Six rooms are located on the northern and western sides of the courtyard. All six rooms are accessed from the courtyard. Their pavement is of beaten, crushed limestone. Some of these may have served as dwelling cells.

Refectory:

Jutting out towards the east is a long hall (13 x 6.4 m), its ceiling borne by three pairs of piers. A staircase supported by a stone arch on the western side of this hall, led to a second story. The four lower steps were preserved in situ. A built bench was found along the western wall of the long hall. This hall may have served as the monastery's refectory.

Water installations:

The cistern, located in a lower level of the courtyard, is 6 m in diameter, 7 m deep with a capacity of about 130 m³. The cistern is cut into the chalk bedrock and plastered with reddish plaster. Water was collected by a system of plastered and covered channels that drained water from all parts of the complex.

Garden:

The horseshoe-shaped courtyard south of the structure may have served as the monastery's garden.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	Jars, kraters, bowls, jugs, juglets, cooking vessels - all dated to the Byzantine period.
Coins	2 coins found in the pavement level: Justin I (518-527); Justin II (565-578)
Other	Tile fragments
Oil lamps	Dated to the Byzantine period.

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
500	Small

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

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

Refectory

Dwelling type:

cells

Number of stories:

Garden

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Water capacity (minimal) (cubic m):

130

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

A square structure with an inner courtyard and a two story addition jutting eastwards. An external horseshoe shaped courtyard on two levels with a cistern is located south of the structure.

Dating material:

According to the excavator, the site is a single period site dated to the Byzantine period. No finer dating was proposed.

Phase date

Century:

5th-6th c.

General outline:

Probably abandoned in the early seventh century CE, either due to the Persian occupation or to the Arab conquest.

Dating material:

Based on the finds,the site was abandoned in the first half of the seventh century, no finds dating to later periods were found.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

First half

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned