Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Sycamina; Shiqmona; Tell es SamakIdentification: The site is identified by L. Di Segni (2009: 222-227) as Porphyreon, according to the literary sources. Monastery name: MonasteryMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Village LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 196,387.00747,752.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 146,384.00247,753.00 Geographical region: Carmel Coastal PlainProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: CaesareaTopographical location: Level groundSoils: SiltDistance from nearest bishop-seat: 22 Km (Ptolomais)Distance from nearest settlement: 0 Distance from Roman roads: Adjacent to the coastal road. Source of knowledgeHideEpigraphy Text number Summary 1 Fragmentary Greek building inscription on one of the floors. Archaeological remainsExcavated siteExcavators: NameDate Makhouly1944 Kletter1999-2000 Bibliograpy: Makhouly, N., 1944206 Elgavish, J., 1964407 Ovadiah, A., 1970165-66 Ovadiah, A. and de Silva, C. G., 1982162-63 Ovadiah, R. and Ovadiah, A., 1987 Peleg, M., 198825-30 Di Segni, L., 1997 Di Segni, L., 2009220-227 Kletter, R., 2010147-82 Torgë, H., 201299-129 (English summary 93*-94*) Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesDiscussion: The chapel excavated by Makhouly in 1940 was published by Peleg (1988) who suggested that the chapel could be associated with the complex excavated by Dothan in 1951 (see Sha'ar Ha'aliya). The confusion arises from the fact that Dothan did not specify the location, only mentioning that the site was "a few hundred meters" southeast of Tel Shiqmona (Dothan 1954-1955:216). Kletter, who excavated the site in 2000 denies this possibility based on Avi-Yonah's more precise description of the location (Avi-Yonah1964:342). A third structure featuring elaborate mosaic pavements and an abundance of marble slab fragments , was excavated by Ad and Torge in 1998 (Torge and Ad 2012: 99-129). If this is structure was a monastery as well, there appears to be a concentration of at least three monasteries in the close vicinity of Shiqmona in the narrow space between Mt. Carmel and the Mediterranean Sea. The finds show that the town was abandoned in the seventh century CE. The site shows no signs of destruction typical of human violence. The excavators surmised that the abandonment took place due to destruction from an earthquake.State of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: Shiqmona is located on the coast, west of Mt Carmel and south of the Haifa bay. A chapel first discovered and excavated in 1939 is located where the modern road connecting Haifa and Tel-Aviv passes. The site was partially excavated in the 1940's and again in 1999-2000, its plan suggesting a courtyard in the center, a chapel in the northeast and auxiliary rooms in the south. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos General descriptionGate/s: Part of an entrance was uncovered in the south wall of the courtyard. Courtyards: South of the chapel there is what seems to be a large courtyard paved in plaster and small stones. Churche/s: The chapel ( 5.5 x 2.5 m.) , discovered in 1939, was paved with a mosaic and had an apse at its eastern end. North of it, a room likewise paved with a mosaic, was apparently connected to the south of the chapel, perhaps a diakonikon. Behind the apse was an irregularly shaped room also paved with a mosaic. The mosaics are of high quality workmanship. Dwellings: South of the chapel, walls of structures that were associated with the chapel, indicate that it was part of a complex and not freestanding. Agricultural and industrial installations: A large winepress was found in close proximity. A large treading floor with a minimum length of 12 m was unearthed. Two pressing installations were found along with three collecting vats. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription CoinsMost were dated to the Byzantine period: a few dated to fourth-fifth centuries and most to mid sixth century. Metal objectsA small bronze amulet dated to the sixth century. OtherDecorated marble slabs, their use unidentified. OtherA clay coffin dating to 2-4th centuries, in secondary use. Detailed descriptionStructureMaterials applied (walls): Kurkar ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 1Courtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveDiakonikonGround floor Agricultural installations: wine press\es [=w/p] Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: A chapel, adjoining structures and industrial installations.Dating material: Based on the style of the mosaics, the chapel has been dated to the second half of the fifth century or the begining of the sixth century CE. Further evidence supplied by the pottery and a small bronze amulet give a more precise dating to its existence in the mid sixth century. Phase dateCentury: 6th c.Within century: Mid Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: First half Post Arab conquest history: Abandoned
