Rujm Jureida - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Rujm Jureida

Monastery name:

Monastery

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Former fortress

Former farm

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

19,304.00

58,814.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

14,304.00

8,814.00

Geographical region:

Hebron Hills

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Eleutheropolis

Topographical location:

Hill

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 29 km (Beth Guvrin-Eleutheropolis)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 6 km north of the road connecting Hebron and Beer Sheva.

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Kochavi	1967-68
Safrai	1985-86

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Magen, Peleg and Sharukh	1997

History:

The first construction phase at the site belongs to the Late Roman period (Fourth Century) when a tower was built west of a natural cave. In the late fifth or early sixth century, a farmhouse was built around the tower. The farmhouse became a monastery sometime in the sixth century, functioning as such up to the massive earthquake of 749 CE, after which it apparently ceased to serve as such. In the late eighth or early ninth century the structure was resettled, only some parts being used, probably due to the serious damage done by the earthquake. The new settlers, whose identity is unknown, made some changes in the parts used by them including the installation of an oil press. The site was apparently abandoned sometime in the tenth century. The cisterns continued to be in use right up to the present.

Bibliograpy:

Kochavi, M. and Ovadiah, R., 1972	80
Safrai, Z., 1985-1986	120-21
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994	255
Magen, Y., 2008	222-24
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	284-86
Magen, Y., Peleg, Y. and Sharukh, I., 2012	397-434

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

Major parts of the complex were excavated including the church, tower, winepress and parts of the wings surrounding the courtyard. The walls of the tower were preserved to a height of several courses, the western wall reaching a height of 1.80 m. A rolling stone was found in situ at the entrance to the tower.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Rujm Jureida- aerial view from the west (Magen and Kagan 2012 II: 284-286 , Fig. 346.1)

Figures

Rujm Jureida- construction phases of the site (Magen, Peleg and Sharukh 2012 : 410, Fig. 5).

General description

Enclosing walls:

The complex was surrounded by a perimeter wall (32 x 27 m) that apparently served a defensive purpose.

Gate/s:

The complex was entered from the west. The gate was preserved to a height of two courses, the doorposts were found in situ.

Courtyards:

The monastery complex is rectangular, built around a central courtyard over a natural cave. The courtyard (12 x 9 m) is located to the east of the tower, only the southeastern part of it remained intact. The courtyard was paved in a mosaic. The surrounding walls were erected on bedrock in the area above a cave which had collapsed. North of the cistern, a pilaster base was found in situ. This was part of a portico that stood in the south of the courtyard and was roofed by arches and paved in mosaic.

Tower/s:

A tower (5.90 x 5.90 m) was constructed west of a natural cave, dated to the Late Roman period. In the later phases it was located in the center of the complex. Entrance to the tower was in its eastern wall, facing the courtyard of the later phases. A rolling stone was found at the entrance to the tower, in situ.

Churche/s:

The chapel (5.1 x 3 m) is located in the south of the complex. Beneath the mosaic floor of the chapel there are natural openings leading to the cave below the compound. The chapel was paved in a colorful mosaic with two carpets featuring geometric designs and the remains of a Greek inscription in the north. On the chapel’s western side, a rectangular room (7.5 x 6.5 m) was also paved with a mosaic featuring a grid of diamonds. In the southeast of this room were the remains of a tabula ansata which probably contained an inscription, now destroyed.

Dwellings:

The eastern wing consists of two rooms, this had originally been a courtyard (13.70 x 9.40 m). The southern wing consists of a large central room, a western room, two rooms east of the large room and a room at the eastern end of the wing. The functions of the various rooms were not determined. Some of these, possibly those of the eastern and/or southern wings, may have served as dwellings for the resident monks.

Refectory:

The northern wing consists of a row of three rooms. The eastern room is the largest (8.80 x 5 m); the middle room (6.40 x 4.70), only the western half was excavated. Two pilasters found in situ indicate an arch that supported the roof in this room. The eastern room (5.20 x 4 m) was also only partially excavated. This room too has ashlar pilasters pointing to a roof-supporting arch. The function of the various rooms was not determined. Based on the size of the rooms and the remains of arches, it might be assumed that these rooms served the daily functions of the residents (dining and other public functions).

Storage facilities:

The excavators suggested that the external cave may have served to store wine (see below).

Cave/s:

A natural cave is located beneath the courtyard. Some 5.5 m south of the compound there is a second cave. The cave was accessed via a corridor (3.40 x 0.90 m) and a flight of six steps. A rolling stone is located near the entrance, it had been used to seal the cave. The walls and floor of the cave were plastered, the excavators suggested that it was used to store the wine.

Water installations:

In the southeastern corner of the courtyard, an elliptical plastered cistern (4 x 2.5 m, 4 m deep, ca. 40 m³ capacity) was found. A round stone (1 m diameter) was laid over the cistern. It had a square opening with a frame for a lid. The cistern was fed by a channel partly hewn into the bedrock and partially constructed with field stones, and plastered. The channel was covered with flat stones several of which were found in situ. The channel drained water from the roof of the southern wing. A ceramic pipe was found, apparently belonging to an early phase. It was used to drain water from the central courtyard. Northwest of the complex is another cistern which was covered by the crushing stone of the oil press, in secondary use, at a later stage.

Agricultural and industrial installations:

Some 10 m southeast of the complex, an improved winepress was excavated. The winepress consists of a central treading floor (4.40 x 4.05 m) paved in a coarse white mosaic and had a round stone for a pressing installation in its center. Four secondary treading floors (3.40 x 2.30m; 2.70 x 2.40 m; 2 x 2 m; 2.50 x 1.95 m), also paved in mosaic, are to its north and east. The treading floors were hewn into the bedrock. Channels led to a settling vat (1.75 x 1.40 m and 0.80 m deep) and a collecting vat (2.10 x 1.90 m and 2.20 m deep). An oil press was installed at a later date. The remains include a basin (1.70 m diameter), a crushing stone and weights.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Inscription - see under epigraphy	Remains of a Greek inscription in the north of the chapel.
Pottery	Most of the pottery dates to the Byzantine-Umayyad period (fifth-seventh centuries). The farmhouse period is represented by household vessels.
Glass	Fragments dated to Byzantine and Early Islamic periods: a camel-shaped vessel.
Metal objects	Rings; knives and pins; a bull-shaped bronze object, use unknown.
Coins	Fifteen coins were found. The earliest is of Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE). Other coins were: two dating to Constantius II (337-361 CE), one to 395-408 CE, one to Justin I (518-527 CE) and one to Justinian I (527-565 CE).
Stone vessels	A small flat, square stone tablet 19 x 19 mm, 4 mm thick, its use unclear; fragments of basalt grinding stones;
Other	Olive pips found near the oil press.
Jewelry	Four beads (not dated)

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
864	Small

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Rolling stone:

at tower

Number of rolling stone:

Tower/s

Courtyard/s

Monastery church:

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

Refectory

Storage caves

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

wine press\es [=w/p]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Water capacity (minimal) (cubic m):

Inscribed crosses

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Phase III

General outline:

A monastery was founded in a structure that had been a farmhouse, constructed around a Late Roman tower. A chapel, a mosaic floor in the tower were added, two rooms were constructed in place of a courtyard (13.70 x 9.40 m) in the eastern wing.

Dating material:

Dated to the sixth century based on the architecture and finds.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Phase name (as published):

Phase IV

General outline:

The monastery continued to function into the Early Islamic period and was badly damaged in the earthquake of 749 CE after which it was abandoned. It was resettled sometime in the late eighth or early ninth century in a non monastic context.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Within century:

Mid

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

The monastery was abandoned after its destruction in 749 CE in the earthquake of that year. The site was later resettled, in the late eighth or early ninth century. Only a small part of the complex was used in this phase, most of the complex remained in ruins. An oil press was installed. The site was abandoned sometime in the tenth century.