Ḥorvat Ḥadath; Ḥorvat Ḥadat; Khirbet el-Hadatha; Khirbet Hadath - Monastery (?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ḥorvat Ḥadath; Ḥorvat Ḥadat; Khirbet el-Hadatha; Khirbet Hadath

Monastery name:

Monastery (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Village

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

201,488.00

643,008.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

151,476.00

143,010.00

Geographical region:

Southern and Western Samaria

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Diospolis

Topographical location:

On top of a low hill.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 14 km (Lod-Diospolis)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 2 km south of the road connecting Diospolis with the Samarian hills.

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Clermont-Ganneau	1874
Abel	1938
Hizmi	Early 1980's

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Cohen	1962
'Ad et alii.	2003

Bibliograpy:

Cohen, R., 1962	15-16
Cohen, R., 1963	17-18
Cohen, R., 1963	590
Biran, A., 1964	27
Ovadiah, A., 1970	110-11
Ḥizmi, Ḥ., 1993
Van den Brink, M., 2007
Dayan, A., 2015	119
Segal, O. , 'Ad, U. and Shmueli, A., 2017
‘Ad, U., Segal, O., Shmueli, O. and Cohen, R., 2020

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

A mosaic paved basilical church with attached structures on the north and south. The attached structures were not excavated.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Drawing in a hermitage, Van den Brink, ESI 119 - 2007

General description

Churche/s:

The church had two phases. In the early phase it was basilical. In the second phase, the church became a simple chapel. An atrium was reported but no narthex. The church was entered from the west through three openings. Three column bases were found in situ. A fragement of chancel post was also found. It was paved in mosaic floors depicting geometrical motifs throughout; vegetal buds in the sanctuary. A three line Greek mosaic inscription was set at the eastern end of the nave, oposite the entrance to the bema.

Dwellings:

A hermit cell installed in an earlier miqveh was uncovered ca. 150m to the north of the main structure. Grafiti depicting a map? of sacred sites (?) marked by structures and crosses were incised on the wall plaster (for one of the structures see Brink 2007, Fig. 3, reproduced here).

Agricultural and industrial installations:

Agricultural installations were excavated to the west of the main structure (Segal 'Ad and Shmueli 2017)

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	A Greek inscription (Psalm 42) at the foot of the bema.
Other	A chancel post.

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

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

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Early phase

General outline:

The church was basiical in plan.

Dating material:

The paleography of the inscription suggests a 2nd half of the 5th c. construction date.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Second half

Phase name (as published):

Late phase

General outline:

The church was reduced in size, becoming a chapel.

Dating material:

Presumably following the Muslim conquest or following damage caused by an earth quake.

Phase date

Century:

6th-7th c.

Dating material:

Pottery

Phase date

Century:

7th-8th c.

Post Arab conquest history:

Modified