Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: RamotIdentification: Based on the inscription found at the site, the monastery was dedicated to St. George.Monastery name: ST. GEORGEMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countryside LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 218,489.00637,106.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 168,493.00137,113.00 Geographical region: Judean HillsProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: JerusalemTopographical location: HilltopDistance from nearest bishop-seat: ca. 9 km (Jerusalem)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 3 km west of the road leading northwards from Jerusalem. Source of knowledgeHideEpigraphy Text number Summary 1 Damaged dated building inscription within a tabula ansata, in the mosaic floor of the northeastern room. Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Arav and Kloner1982 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate Arav and Kloner1982 Bibliograpy: Di Segni, L., Arav, R. and Kloner, A., 1990313-20 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994212 Cotton, H. M., Di Segni, L., Eck, W., Isaac,B., Kushnir-Stein, A., Misgav, H., Price, J., Roll, I. and Yardeni, A., 2010–2012532-34 Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 201225 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: It is impossible to know the foundation date of the monastery uncovered at Ramot. Based on parallels in the region and on the meagre finds, a date sometime in the mid to late sixth or early seventh century would probably be the case. The most important aspect of this site is confirmation that monasteries not only continued to exist well into the Early Islamic period, but they were also renovated in some manner. It might be noted that the mosaic pavement is a simple one and does not exhibit the lavish designs that are often found in pavements of earlier years. This may reflect either a poor state of the monastery's economy or perhaps avoiding undesirable attention from the authorities. State of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The site is located in the northern Judean hills, about five km northwest of Jerusalem, today in the area of the Ramot neighborhood. The site is poorly preserved and the plan of the complex is not known. Two rooms were preserved in the northeastern corner.The western room is 3 x 3.7 m. The dimensions of the eastern room are not known since no walls have remained above ground level. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: An area of 40,000 m2 is surrounded by a stone fence. Water installations: Two cisterns were found in the enclosed area surrounding the monastery. Agricultural and industrial installations: In the enclosed area, that probably served as the farm associated with the monastery, the finds included oil presses, a wine press and two cisterns, all of which support the identification of the complex as having an agricultural function. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription Inscription - see under epigraphy PotteryA bag shaped amphora of the late Byzantine-Early Islamic period (found in a pit in the western room); pottery sherds. Metal objects4 iron nails (47-80 mm.) GlassFragments of glass oil lamps. CoinsThree coins (one Hasmonean, the other two unidentifiable). Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 40,000Large StructureMaterials applied (walls): Limestone ComponentsEnclosing wallMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location unknown Agricultural installations: oil press\es [=o/p]wine press\es [=w/p]Water installations: Cisterns0 Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Phase 2 Abandonment General outline: Due to the paucity of the remains, a plan of the monastery could not be drawn. The monastery had an agricultural function attested by the agricultural installations.Dating material: Dated to the late Byzantine- Early Islamic period. Phase dateCentury: 6th-7th c. General outline: At some point in time a room was added or renovated. Dating material: An inscription in the mosaic paving is dated to the year 762 CE. Phase dateCentury: 8th c.Within century: Second half Dating material: Since the pottery assemblage at the site was dated to the late Byzantine-Early Islamic period and the mosaic pavement is dated to the second half of the eighth century, it may be assumed that the monastery was abandoned at the earliest, sometime towards the end of the eighth or early ninth century. Phase dateCentury: 8th-9th c. Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: No Post Arab conquest history: Still in usePost conquest history comments: The monastery continued to function in the Early Islamic period as attested by the dated inscription in the mosaic paving.
