Rehovot in-the-Negev (North Church) - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Rehovot in-the-Negev (North Church)

Monastery name:

Monastery

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Village

Pilgrims

Source of sacredness:

Sacred Objects

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

158,402.00

549,151.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

108,390.00

49,149.00

Geographical region:

Central Negev

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina III

Bishopric:

Elusa

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 6 km (Elusa)

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Tsafrir	1975; 1986

Bibliograpy:

Tsafrir, Y., Patrich, J. and Heginbottom, R., 1988

Tsafrir, Y. and Holum. K. G., 1993

Tsafrir, Y., 1993

Patrich, J., 2006

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The North church of Rehovot-in-the-Negev was extensively excavated revealing a large basilica. The eastern part and southern wing of the atrium was also uncovered.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Isometric reconstruction of the church (Tsafrir 1993: 298).

General description

Gate/s:

The southern wing of the atrium contained the entrance to the complex.

Churche/s:

The church is a triapsidal basilica (24.8 x 13.1 m, internal measurements) divided into a nave and two aisles by two rows of columns. A chancel screen of limestone and marbel separated the prayer hall from the sanctuary. Fragments of the main altar and colonnettes of altars from the lateral apses were uncovered. Behind the side apses were rooms which did not open onto the church.

A chapel was annexed to the northwestern part of the church.

Dwellings:

The dwellings of the monks surrounded the atrium but only a small part was excavated.

Refectory:

Adjacent to the entrance gate in the southern wing, a large hall containing a long, narrow table was uncovered, probably the refectory.

Burials:

A crypt was located under the eastern part of the church. Two staircases led into it from both sides of the sanctuary.

Water installations:

A large cistern was found in the atrium.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	Numerous funerary and dedicatory Greek inscription were found around the church on capitals and stone objects. The funerary inscription are dated between 480-555 CE. Arabic inscription in Kufic script.
Pottery
Glass	Two glass bowls depicting saints.

Comments, discussion and summary:

The excavation at this site concentrated on the large basilical church (a full description can be found in the Churches section) but did not continue to uncover a monastic structures which were probably to its west, surrounding the atrium. An indication of a monastic presence is the uncovering of two inscriptions found on slabs of stone in the atrium's stylobate (Tsafrir, Patrich and Heginbottom 1988: 172).

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Components

Enclosing wall

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
basilical			Ground floor

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

The earliest inscription is dated to 480. There is no information concerning the foundation of the monastery.

Dating material:

Epigraphy.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Second half

General outline:

The town and the church were abandoned in the early 8th c. There is no information concerning the monastery.

Phase date

Century:

Unknown