Vertical tabsMonastery name, type, categorySite Name: Giv‘ot Bar (Naḥal Peḥar)Identification: The name Betomorsy or Betomarsy mentioned in the third line of the chapel inscription may refer to the Byzantine village of H. Karkur, located not too far (TIR: 161), and the cenobium seems to be called after it.Monastery name: Betomorsy / BetomarsyMonastery type: CenobiumMonastery category: Isolated in the countryside LocationCoordinates, ITM system: 176,977.00584,995.00 Coordinates, ICS system: 126,977.0084,995.00 Geographical region: North-Western NegevProvincial affiliation: Palaestina IBishopric: GazaTopographical location: On the southwestern bank of Nahal Pehar, within the precincts of the settlement of Giv‘ot Bar, in its second traffic circle; some 2.5km to the south of Rahat.Distance from Roman roads: ca. 6 km northeast of the road connecting Gaza with Birosaba. Source of knowledgeEpigraphyArchaeological remainsExcavated siteExcavators: NameDate Paran2006 Bibliograpy: Paran, N. S., 2009 Varga, D., 2021 Abbreviation for Journals and SeriesState of certainty: Archaeologicaly definitive General descriptionState of preservation/which parts were uncovered: The complex, 33x33m in dimensions, consists of a main wing in the north and two service wings in the east and the south. The central courtyard is 9x5m in dimensions. A depression in its center suggests a water cistern. The service wings of the monastery were only partially excavated. The NE wing was an industrial winepress. The main structure consists of three rooms. Its walls were preserved to a height of 1.4-2.0 m. The central room served as a chapel. Illustrative material: Illustrative_material Photos Figures General descriptionEnclosing walls: The structure is square (33 x 33 m), surrounded by a wall. Gate/s: The main wing was entered from the east via a gate, its doorjambs were found in situ. The northern jamb had a recess for the locking mechanism. Courtyards: A courtyard (5 x 9 m) was exposed, in the center of which was a depression, apparently a collapsed cistern. Churche/s: A chapel (3.7 x 6.2 m) was located to the north of the central courtyard. This was the central room in a row of three rooms. The chapel opened directly into the courtyard and its two flanking rooms were accessed from the chapel. Remains of a groove for placing the chancel screen were found in the floor of the chapel and fragments of a soft chalk screen were found. The walls of the chapel were plastered with a white plaster. Burials: Below the floor of the room east of the chapel, paved in flagstones, two tombs were uncovered (each 0.7 x 1.7 m). A cross was carved on the southern of the two tombs. On the eastern side of the burial room was an apse (2.8 m diam.) paved with a white mosaic, its walls constructed of mudbricks and lined with plaster. Notches in the floor indicate the existence of a chancel screen. Water installations: A collapsed cistern was located in the center of the courtyard. Agricultural and industrial installations: A pavement suggested to have been the treading floor of a winepress was found. Small findsSmall finds: CategoryDescription PotteryA small quantity of potsherds from the end of the Byzantine period (sixth-seventh centuries CE) Metal objectsA large number of iron nails (about 30); A bronze hook used to suspend a lamp. Detailed descriptionDimensions: Total area (sqm)Size class 1,089Medium StructureMaterials applied (walls): LimestoneBrickMaterials applied (roofing): tilestimber ComponentsEnclosing wallGate/s: 1Courtyard/sMonastery church: Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location single naveGround floor Number of stories: 2Tombs type: Burial chamberAgricultural installations: wine press\es [=w/p]Water installations: CisternsInscribed crosses Architectural evolutionPhase 1 Abandonment General outline: No description of phases was provided. Dating material: Based on the pottery, the monastery is dated to the sixth-seventh centuries. Phase dateCentury: 6th-7th c. Iconoclastic evidenceIconoclastic evidence: No Dating material: Latest pottery dated to 7th c. Inscription 3 - an epitaph found near the entrance to the chapel, is dated to 647, indicating that the church was still in use at that time. The paucity of finds and absence of signs of violence point to a peaceful evacuation. Phase dateCentury: 7th c.Within century: Mid Post Arab conquest history: AbandonedPost conquest history comments: The monastery and the adjacent farm were apparently abandoned without violence as a result of the Islamic conquest.
