Deir el-Hawa - Monastery (?)

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Deir el-Hawa

Monastery name:

Monastery (?)

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

19,324.00

58,610.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

14,324.00

8,610.00

Geographical region:

Hebron Hills

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Eleutheropolis

Topographical location:

Hilltop

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 26 km (Beth Govrin-Eleutheropolis).

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 3 km northwest of the road connecting Hebron with Beer Sheva.

Source of knowledge

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Conder and Kitchener	1871-1877

Bibliograpy:

Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1883	393
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	111
Bagatti, B., 2002	85-7
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	290-91

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Uncertain / Questionable

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The site was not excavated. At the time of the survey, the outer walls of the complex stood to a height of two to three courses.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Deir el Hawa- northern wall of the structure

General description

Enclosing walls:

A rectangular structure (ca. 28 x 23 m). The walls on the outer faces are ashlar built, the inner faces of fieldstones.

Gate/s:

Entrance to the complex is through its northern wall.

Courtyards:

A central courtyard measuring ca. 15 x 10 m = 150m².

Dwellings:

A row of similar sized rooms, ca. 4 x 4 m, was noted along the wall. These may have constituted the dwelling cells of the resident monks. A dwelling cave was found some 160 m to the north. This, at the time of the survey, was used as an animal pen.

Cave/s:

Near the complex there are openings to three caves. The structure had been built over a natural cave which had collapsed in the course of time. A second cave was found some five m west of the complex's western wall, it was reached via a stone lined shaft that had been sealed on top with stone flags. It had probably adjoined the first cave. A dwelling cave was found about 160 m to the north.

Water installations:

A cistern was located in the center of the courtyard. A second cistern was some40 m north of the structure.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

Two wine presses were observed adjoining the eastern and western walls, their floors paved with a white mosaic.

Small finds

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
644	Small

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Components

Enclosing wall

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

Church type	Diakonikon	Link to church section	Church location
No traces

Dwelling type:

cells

caves

Agricultural installations:

wine press\es [=w/p]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

General outline:

A compound enclosed by a wall, wine presses and caves. Although described as a monastery, this is doubtful as no remains of a church or finds suggesting the presence of one have been found. If this was indeed a monastery, its foundation should be regarded as parallel to others in the region, i.e. late fifth or sixth century.

Phase date

Century:

5th-6th c.

Phase date

Century:

Unknown