Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Ruhama; Kh. JemamehMonastery name: MonasteryMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countrysideFormer farm LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 170,398.00600,901.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 120,394.00100,899.00 Geographical region: North-Western NegevProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: EleutheropolisTopographical location: Level groundDistance from nearest bishop-seat: 14 km (Gaza)Distance from Roman roads: ca. 5 km south of the road connecting Ascalon with the Judean hills. Source of knowledgeArchaeological remainsExcavated siteExcavators: NameDate Gophna and Feig 1958 Bibliograpy: Gophna, R., 1960402-406 Ovadiah, A., 1970156-57 Gophna, R. and Feig, N., 199397-108 Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994156 Schick, R., 1995382; 444 Goldfus, H., 1997170-75 Hirschfeld, Y., 200461-88 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: It is noteworthy that the walls of the complex were constructed of mud brick, not unusual along the southern coast where this type of construction was still in use in the twentieth century. This probably accounts for the poor preservation of the site.State of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: A well defined complex built around an inner courtyard. The site was fully excavated, revealing the floors and foundations of walls, the walls themselves having been constructed of mud-brick and plastered on the surface, did not survive. The southern part of the monastery did not survive. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: The monastery was surrounded by a wall (30 x 25 m), encompassing an area of about 800 m2. The walls were built of mud bricks on a stone foundation and plastered on the inside. The eastern wall of the complex was found to be thicker than the rest leading the excavators to suggest that it may have had a staircase leading to a second story. Gate/s: The entrance faced west where a wide corridor (2.5 m) lead to a U shaped courtyard, paved with a white mosaic. Courtyards: The courtyard was apparently U shaped but its southern part did not survive. It surrounds the chapel on the north, west and apparently on the south as well. A tomb was found in the northern part and a cistern in the southern part of the courtyard. Churche/s: The church is located east of the courtyard. It is (unusually) with north-south orientated long walls, and an apse in the long east wall. The pre-existing hall was converted into a chapel in the monastic phase of the complex. The chapel was partially paved in fine quality mosaics while other parts showed signs of having been paved with stone slabs. Refectory: The northern wing formed the earliest part of the complex consisting of a large hall and a smaller room near it which may have served as a refectory and as a kitchen respectively, in the last phase. A coarse white mosaic with a geometric pattern in its center covered the floor. The hall had two doorways, one connected with the courtyard, the other opening into the small room east of it. These doorways support the hall's identification as a refectory. Burials: A tomb was built beneath the northwestern wing of the courtyard, the shaft leading to it was covered with a stone flag. The tomb has two burial compartments where a number of human skulls were found. The tomb had been looted in antiquity. Three additional slabs of stone were placed in the pavement of the courtyard perhaps in anticipation of future burials. Two more burials found south of the monastery were associated with it according to the excavators. Kitchen: The kitchen is located in the northern wing adjacent to the refectory. It was paved with potsherds laid vertically and then smoothed over. This type of pavement is more commonly associated with installations than with dwellings (Roll and Ayalon 1981:113, 117) lending some support to the identification of the room as a kitchen. Stable: On the western side of the complex, just north of the gateway, an unpaved room may have been a stable, suggested by the trough located in the courtyard adjacent to its outer wall. Water installations: A rectangular, built cistern (3 x 4.6 m) with a vaulted ceiling was found under the west part of the courtyard. Two bell shaped cisterns were found near the complex. One cistern is just outside, a few meters to the north; the second about 60 m to the southwest. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryBowls, kraters, cooking pots, a clay chalis and clay pipes. All dating to the Byzantine period and pointing to a domestic nature. Oil lampsLamps in the tomb, including one of the "slipper" type, usually attributed to the late Byzantine-Early Islamic period. Stone vesselsStone fragments of a semi-circular marble basin or table-top; fragments of a marble chancel screen; a stone bowl with a handle. Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 800Small StructureMaterials applied (walls): LimestoneBrick ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 1Courtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveDiakonikonGround floor Baptismal fontRefectoryNumber of stories: 2KitchenStableTombs type: Burial chamberWater installations: CisternsWater capacity (minimal) (cubic m): 3Inscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: The monastery was established in a pre-existing farmhouse which consisted only of the northern and eastern wings. Upon establishment of the monastery, the northern wing had apparently been converted into a refectory and kitchen. The eastern wing was converted into a chapel which accounts for its unusual orientation (north-south). The establishment of the monastery was dated to the sixth century CE. The monastery apparently existed into the Early Islamic period, suggested by what may have been iconoclastic damage in the northwestern hall.Dating material: Dating to the sixth century CE is based on the pottery. Suggested iconoclastic damage in the northeastern hall points to the continued existence of the monastery into the Early Islamic peiod. Phase dateCentury: 6th-7th c. General outline: Early Islamic period. Dating material: The excavators tentatively dated the end of monastic life at the site to 634 CE, the defeat of the Byzantine army by the Arabs in this area. However,possible iconoclastic damage in the mosaic paving of the northwestern hall, repaird with three crosses may indicate that it continued to function into the Early Islamic period. No finds dating to later periods were evident. Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: Mid Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: YesIconoclastic evidence comments: A small patch in the center of the northwestern hall was repaired with three crosses, suggesting iconoclasm. Post Arab conquest history: Still in usePost conquest history comments: The monastery possibly continued to function for a short period of time into the Early Islamic period. The absence of finds from the Abbasid period probably points to its abandonment by that time.
