Beit 'Anun; Khirbet Abu Rish - Chapel

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Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Beit 'Anun; Khirbet Abu Rish

Identification:

Located ca. 0.5km NE of Beit 'Anun. The site of Beit 'Anun preserves the biblical name of Beth Anoth (Josh. 15: 59), the present site being one of several churches found in the area.

Church name:

Chapel

Functional Type:

Pilgrims' church

Church type:

Chapel

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

212.78

607.87

Coordinates, ICS system:

162.78

1,107.87

Location:

Village/Town

Geographical region:

Hebron Hills

Topographical location:

The site is located on a slope in the east of the 'Anun Valley in an area of hills. The 'Anun valley separates the Hebron hills from the Judean Desert.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 20 km (Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis)

Distance from nearest settlement:

ca. 0.5 km (Beit 'Anun).

Distance from Roman roads:

The site is situated near the road that connected Aristobulias with Jerusalem.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Eleutheropolis

Source of knowledge

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Damaged commemorative inscription with an invocation of the Lord, at the centre of the mosaic floor of Room A.

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Conder and Kitchener	1871-1877
Kochavi	1967-1968

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Magen and Baruch	1990-1992

History:

In the first phase of the site, the structure was apparently an agricultural or industrial complex constructed in the fifth century. In the second phase, possibly in connection to the tombs found in the vicinity, the site became a focus of pilgrimage. The site was abandoned in the Early Islamic period.

Bibliograpy:

Kochavi, M. and Ovadiah, R., 1972
Kochavi, M.‎, 1972‎
Ovadiah, A. and De Silva, C. G., 1981
Magen, I. and Baruch, Y., 1997
Tzaferis, V., 1997
Magen, Y. and Baruch, Y. , 1997
Di Segni, L., 2007
Magen, Y. and Baruch, Y., 2012
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012
Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883	347

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

An agricultural farmstead turned into a Christian complex, seemingly a monastery. Both phases are attributed to the Byzantine period. Some of the structure's walls are preserved to a height of two meters and more. An elongated room (no. 2) of the first phase was enlarged southwards and westwards, being converted to a chapel, 5x11m in dimensions. Five posts, running lengthwise, divided the hall into two aisles. The former stone floor was replaced to mosaics floor. Only small fragments of it survived. The sanctuary on the east is 1 stair elevated relative to the rest of the hall.

A rock cut burial crypt (C7), accessed by rock-cut staircases from outside, on the north, underlies the western part of the chapel. Three scrosses are cut in the rock at its entrance. Ten burials troughs were installed therein. A Greek inscription was found in the NW corner.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Figures

Kh. Abu Rish- construction phases of the site (Magen and Baruch 1997: 342, fig. 2)

Kh. Abu Rish- entrance to the tomb (Magen and Baruch 1997: 347, fig. 4)

Nave:

A large room from the first phase of the structure was extended southwards and apparently adapted as a chapel hall.

Bema, chancel screen and apse:

A bema was built in the eastern part of the prayer hall with one step leading up to it. It was elevated by a foundation consisting of a layer of earth and small stones, lime and tesserae.

Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	Greek dedicatory
Pottery	Various vessels, dated to 6th-7th centuries CE

Small finds illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Atrium:

Narthex:

Altar remains:

no remains

Crypt

Accessibility and description:

A rock cut burial crypt (Tomb C7), accessed by rock-cut staircases from outside, on the north, underlies the western part of the chapel. Three scrosses are cut in the rock at its entrance. Ten burials troughs were installed therein.

Function:

Burial crypt.

Burial loci

Burials loci:

Tombs predating the construction of the church were located at the site, became a focus of veneration and pilgrimage. A mosaic pavement covered one of these tombs while an elaborate entrance was constructed.

Architectural Evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Second building phase

General outline:

Several rooms were added, two rooms were joined and extended southwards to form a chapel. The hall was divided to two aisles by five pilasters running west-east, lengthwise.

Dating material:

All phases at the site are dated to the Byzantine period based on the pottery, epigraphy and other finds. The precise dating of each phase has not been discerned. The first phase of the church most likely is from the sixth century when pilgirmage became widespread.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Phase name (as published):

Third construction phase

General outline:

Minor changes were made.

Dating material:

Dated to the Byzantine period.

Phase date

Century:

6th-7th c.

General outline:

The site was probably abandoned after the Arab conquest when pilgrimage ceased.

Dating material:

All the finds at the site were Byzantine.

Phase date

Century:

7th c?

Within century:

First half

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Post Arab conquest history:

Abandoned