Khirbet Ras 'Alam - Monastery (?)

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Monastery name, type, category
Site Name: 
Khirbet Ras 'Alam
Monastery name: 
Monastery (?)
Monastery type: 
Cenobium
Monastery category: 
Isolated in the countryside
Location
Coordinates, ITM system: 
21,030.00
65,800.00
Coordinates, ICS system: 
16,030.00
15,800.00
Geographical region: 
Southern and Western Samaria
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina I
Bishopric: 
Diospolis
Topographical location: 
On a small hill.
Distance from nearest bishop-seat: 
ca. 22 km (Diospolis-Lod)
Distance from Roman roads: 
ca. 1 km from the road connecting Afek-Antipatris and Jericho.
Source of knowledge
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Surveyed site
Surveyors: 
NameDate
Finkelstein, Lederman and Bunimovitz
1981-1985
Discussion: 
The site was identified as a monastery based on a churchlike structure (fragments of chancel screen confirm the presence of a church) and a capital adorned with crosses. This may indeed have been a monastery but only excavations will be able to give support to this identification.
State of certainty: 
Uncertain / Questionable
General description
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Churche/s: 

An ashlar built structure, with an east-west orientation was observed in the survey. Fragments of chancel screen confirm the presence of a church. A small subterranean chamber with a vaulted roof was noted in the eastern part of the structure - apparently the church's crypt.

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Detailed description
Hide Structure
Materials applied (walls): 
Limestone
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Monastery church: 
Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location
unknown
Ground floor
Inscribed crosses
Architectural evolution
General outline: 
A churchlike structure with a crypt.
Hide Phase date
Century: 
Early Christian / Byzantine