Vertical tabsChurch Name, type, functionSite Name: el-Bassa; BEZETHChurch name: Chapel (?)Functional Type: UnknownChurch type: Unknown LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 1,633.002,762.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 2,133.007,762.00 Location: Village/TownGeographical region: Western GalileeTopographical location: In the southern industrial zone of Shlomi. In the western outskirts of the ruined Arab village el-Bassa, below the Muslim cemetery.Bishopric: Tyre Source of knowledgeHideEpigraphy Text number Summary 1 Six-line fragmentary dated mosaic building inscription of Maroutha the priest (?), found during a salvage excavation in the southern industrial zone of Shelomi, from an unidentified religious building perhaps belonging to the same monastic complex, 567/568 (?). 2 Plaque of white marble with an imperial grant of asylum to an oratory of the prophet Zacharias, found on two separate occasions in the village of el-Bassa, from a ghost church perhaps belonging to the same monastic complex, late 6th cent. Archaeological remainsSurveyed siteSurveyors: NameDate Van de Velde1851-52 Tristram1865 Guérin1880 Excavated siteExcavators: NameDate Tahan2001 History: Bezeth was a Jewish town. The Arab village el-Bassa, destroyed in 1948, was mostly Christian. The present town of Shlomi was built nearby.Bibliograpy: Van de Velde, C. W. M., 1854254 Tristram, H. B., 1866 Guérin, V., 1880II, 152-153 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 199489 Frankel, R., Getzov, N. , Aviam, M. and Degani, A., 200117, sites 81, 82, 153; 114-116 Bagatti, B., 2001153-155 Tahan, H. and Syon, D., 2010 Abbreviation for Journals and Series General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: A mosaic paved chamber with a 6 lines long dated Greek inscription in a rectangular frame, dated to 567/8 CE and identifying it as a holy place.The cross at the beginning of the inscription indicates that it is Christian. The axiality of the inscription differs than that of the mosaic carpet and the eastern wall of the chamber. Its identity as a chapel is possible, but not certain. Another Greek inscription, mentioning an oratory of the prophet Zacharias was found in the Arab village in the 19th c. (See under Epigraphy). Another Greek inscription, on a reliquary lid, was also found the Arab village, but its archaeological context is unknown. Description Small finds Detailed descriptionStructure Architectural EvolutionPhase 1 Abandonment Phase name (as published): Stratum 2General outline: As in the General Description.Dating material: The Greek mosaic inscription is dated to 567/8 CE. A coin of Justinus II of 573/4. 6th-7th c. pottery. Phase dateCentury: 6th c.Within century: Second half Dating material: Samall amount of pottery of the 6th-7th c. Phase dateCentury: 7th c.
