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Basilical church, measures 12.5 X 21 m, with inner apse flanked by pastophoria. The narthex was partially excavated.
Only parts of the eastern and southern walls of the narthex were uncovered. The narthex was paved with stone slabs.
The church was entered from the narthex by three doorways, leading to the nave and the aisles.
The walls were built of dressed stones. The inner faces of the walls were coated with plaster. Remains of painted decoration were discernible on the whitewashed surface.
The nave was separated from the aisles by two rows of five columns. The floor of the nave was paved with a mosaic floor with geometric, floral and figurative patterns.
The aisles were paved by stone slabs. Probes dug in the aisles revealed a mosaic floor from an earlier phase. In the debris in the aisles were found numerous mosaic fragments and balustrade posts, indicating the existence of galleries above the aisles.
The apse was internal, semicircular, flanked by pastophoria. The U-shaped bema measured 5 X 5 m. It was mosaic paved. In the center of the bema were found the remains of a 0.8 X 0.8 m altar, constructed of dressed stone faced with marble slabs. From the northwest corner of the bema an ambo protruded to the prayers hall.
The apse was flanked by two pastophoria, each 3.5x3.5m in dimensions. An hexagonal instalation revated by 0.5wide marble plates was standing in the center of each room. Seemingly they served as containers for holy relics.
Category | Description |
---|---|
Glass | Fragments of glass lamps. |
Stone vessels | Piece of a stone reliquary. |
Coins | Three coins. |
Metal objects | Many iron nails indicating wooden roofing. |
Total |
---|
5 |
An early 6th c. date can be assigned to the mosaic floor. Remains of an earlier mosaic floor were found in the aisles, suggesting an earlier date, perhaps - mid 5th c.
Mosaics style.
The church was abandoned and collapsed in the mid-seventh century, possibly following the Arab conquest.