Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, category(active tab)LocationSource of knowledgeGeneral descriptionDetailed descriptionArchitectural evolutionMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Khirbet Umm el-'AsafirMonastery name: Monastery (?)Monastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Former ruin LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 22,125.0062,495.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 17,125.0012,495.00 Geographical region: Judean Desert fringesProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: HillDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 8 km. (Jerusalem)Distance from nearest settlement: ca. 3 km (Bethlehem)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 2 km east of the road connecting Jerusalem with Bethlehem. Source of knowledgeHide Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate NameDate Conder and Kitchener1871-1877 Corbo1955 Kloner2000 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate NameDate Batz2003 Batz and Greenfeld2009 Bibliograpy: Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883127 Corbo, V. C., 1955 Kloner, A., 2000154 Batz, S., 2003123-45 (English summary 34*) Batz, S. and Greenfeld, U., 200984-127 (English summary 10*-12*) Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 201297-98 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: Corbo (1955) suggested that the site was a monastery. In the excavations, remains of the church reported in early surveys were not found, possibly looted for the stone. Remains of unidentified structures were found in the excavations along with remains of a Roman bath house that was not in use in the Byzantine period. Corbo's identification of the site as a monastery has been tentatively accepted (Magen and Kagan 2012: 97-98) State of certainty: Uncertain / Questionable General descriptionHide General descriptionChurche/s: Remains of a church (13.8 m wide , length unknown), built of ashlars were noted in early surveys. However, in a salvage excavation in 2002 remains of a church were not identified. Agricultural and industrial installations: An improved winepress was found. Hide Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription CategoryDescription PotteryShards dated to the Byzantine period. Detailed descriptionHide StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone Hide ComponentsMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location unknown KitchenAgricultural installations: wine press\es [=w/p]0 Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The monastery was probably established sometime in the late fifth or sixth century CE. A Roman bathhouse was uncovered at the site, it had gone out of use by the Byzantine period.Hide Phase dateCentury: 5th-6th c. Dating material: The latest finds at the site were dated to the eighth century, however, if this was a monastery, it may have been abandoned at an earlier date. Hide Phase dateCentury: 7th-8th c. Post Arab conquest history: Still in use
