Ras Abu-Subeitan - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ras Abu-Subeitan

Monastery name:

Monastery

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

22,478.00

63,212.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

17,478.00

13,212.00

Geographical region:

Judean Desert fringes

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

Slope of a hill

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 2 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from nearest settlement:

ca. 2 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 1 km south of the road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Source of knowledge

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Magen and Finkelstein	1993

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Peleg	2008 (not published)

Bibliograpy:

Magen, Y. and Finkelstein, I., 1993	354
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	35-36

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Ras Abu-Subeitan- remains of the chapel's mosaic pavement (Magen and Kagan 201 II: 36, Fig 179.1).

General description

Paths:

An ancient path which has since disappeared, led to the monastery.

Enclosing walls:

The complex is surrounded by a perimeter wall. Its dimensions: 17.6 x 19.9 m, enclosing and area ca. 300 m².

Courtyards:

A courtyard was located in the center of the complex.

Churche/s:

Two of the rooms unearthed were identified as a chapel. One of these was paved with a mosaic consisting of a diamond and bud pattern. This room was at a lower level than the room to its west. The two rooms were connected by an opening. A lintel with a carved, red painted cross was found on the floor.

Dwellings:

The excavator surmised that the living quarters were in the western part of the courtyard.

Refectory:

A hall with remains of piers attested to arches that held up the roof. This could possibly have been a public hall, perhaps a refectory.

Baking oven:

Ovens (the number was not specified) were found in the eastern part of the hall with the piers. This supports the suggestion that the hall served as a refectory.

Water installations:

A cistern was located in the courtyard.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	Late Byzantine- Early Islamic.

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
300	Small

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Enclosing wall

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

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

Refectory

Number of stories:

Baking oven

Water installations:

Cisterns

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

The small monastery was founded sometime in the late fifth or early sixth century. No noticeable changes were made in the structure in the years of its existence.

Dating material:

Late Byzantine - Early Islamic pottery

Phase date

Century:

5th-6th c.

General outline:

Sometime in the mid-seventh century. The site was apparently not resettled.

Dating material:

Based on the pottery.

Phase date

Century:

7th c.

Within century:

Mid

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned