Khirbet Ḥubeila - Monastery (?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Khirbet Ḥubeila

Identification:

Vincent (1939: 87) suggested, based on a Greek inscription in the tomb, that the monastery may have been named Claudianus.

Monastery name:

Monastery (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

21,022.00

61,870.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

16,022.00

11,870.00

Geographical region:

Judean Hills

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Topographical location:

On a moderate slope in a region of low hills.

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 25 km (Jerusalem)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 2 km west of the road connecting Jerusalem with Hebron

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Conder and Kitchener	1871-1877

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Abel	1924

Bibliograpy:

Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883	114
Abel, F. M., 1925	279-82
Vincent, L. H., 1939	87-90
Ovadiah, A., 1970	118-19
Bagatti, B., 1983
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	148
Bagatti, B., 2002	52
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	133-34

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The church was excavated in 1924. Structures south of the church, on which the identification of the site as a monastery was based, were not excavated. The site was in a poor state of preservation, remaining only at foundation level.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Figures

Khirbet Hubeila- plan of the church (Magen and Kagan 2012 II: 134, no. 242)

General description

Churche/s:

A basilical church (15.8 x 12.4 m) decorated with colorful mosaics featuring geometric motifs. The church is divided by two rows of columns into a nave and two aisles of equal proportions Three columns were found in situ, their capitals decorated with lotus patterns. Fragments of additional columns and bases were found north of the church and around the site. remains of a chancel screen groove was found on the bema. A rectangular room flanking the southern side of the apse served as a diakonikon (Vincent 1939). The main entrance is suggested by a square pattern in the mosaic pavement, facing the nave.

Burials:

A tomb was unearthed beneath the floor of the church's southern aisle. A crudely carved inscription was found on its lid.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

A cave containing an oil press was excavated on the site in 2000 (not published).

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy
Other	Fragments of a reliquary- found in the nave.

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

Components

Monastery church:

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

Tombs type:

Cist tomb

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

A basilical church with a burial beneath the southern aisle. Nearby structures were not excavated.

Dating material:

Sixth century CE based on the finds.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

General outline:

An oil press dating to the Early Islamic period was found at the site. The identity of the occupants has not been ascertained.

Phase date

Century:

7th-8th c.

Post conquest history comments:

An oil press dating to the Early Islamic period was excavated at the site. This is in keeping with the pattern found in other monasteries in the area. However, there is nothing to indicate if the occupants at the time were Christian or otherwise.

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