Ḥorvat Hani; Ḥorvat Hanni - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category

Site Name:

Ḥorvat Hani; Ḥorvat Hanni

Monastery name:

Monastery

Monastery type:

Cenobium

Monastery category:

Isolated in the countryside

Pilgrims

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

19,700.00

65,940.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

14,700.00

15,940.00

Geographical region:

Southern and Western Samaria

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Diospolis

Topographical location:

Hilltop

Distance from nearest bishop-seat:

ca. 15 km (Diospolis)

Distance from Roman roads:

ca. 2 km north of the road connecting Lod-Diospolis with Shechem-Neapolis.

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Anati	1951
Naveh and Shacham	1963
Safrai and Dar	1983
Gofna and Beit-Arieh	1997

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Dahari and Zelinger	2002

Bibliograpy:

Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1882	307
Gophna, R. and Beit-Arieh, I., 1997	21
Dahari, D., 2003	102-6
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	167-68
Dahari, U. and Zelinger, Y., 2014	179-203
Di Segni, L., 2014	205-8
Klein, E., 2014	211-14
Dayan, A., 2015	82-3

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

State of certainty:

Archaeologicaly definitive

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

The monastery was excavated thoroughly. The northwestern side of the complex was completely destroyed by construction.

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Mosaic inscription with dedication (Dahari 2003)

Figures

General plan of the nunnery at Horvat Hanni (Dahari and Zelinger 2014)

Horvat Hanni- Cross section A-A1 (Dahari and Zelinger 2014)

Horvat Hanni cross section B-B1 (Dahari and Zelinger 2014)

Horvat Hanni- cross section C-C1 (Dahari and Zelinger 2014)

Horvat Hanni- cross section D-D1 (Dahari and Zelinger 2014)

Horvat Hanni- Isometric reconstruction, view from the east (Dahari and Zelinger 2014)

General description

Paths:

The main approach to the complex was via a paved path (ca. 2 m wide) ascending from the south.

Enclosing walls:

The monastery was enclosed in a perimeter wall. The wall enclosed two structures, Building A that contained the church and the nunnery and Building B that housed the pilgrims' hostel, kitchen and refectory.

Gate/s:

The entrance to the complex was located in the western part of the southern perimeter wall, west of building B.

The nunnery and church (Building A) formed a separate unit with its own entryway. A two-story vaulted tower was built above the entranceway, the bottom floor serving as an entrance hall to the nunnery and the upper floor was probably a guardroom. A doorway led from the entrance hall to a narthex, paved with a coarse white, red and black mosaic.A two-story vaulted tower was built above the entranceway, the bottom floor serving as an entrance hall to the nunnery and the upper floor was probably a guardroom. A doorway led from the entrance hall to a narthex, paved with a coarse white, red and black mosaic.

Courtyards:

A large partially paved outer courtyard separated the two buildings of the complex. A second courtyard was located within the main structure (A) near the residential area.

Tower/s:

A two story tower stood over the main entrance to the nunnery (see above Gates).

A two story tower was located north of the church apse and may have served a residential purpose.

Churche/s:

The church was a single nave chapel (5.7 x 10.4 m) with an apse constructed of ashlars. The apse, which also served as a bema, was 0.5 m higher than the nave and was separated from it by a marble chancel screen. An altar stood in the center of the apse. South of the apse a doorway led into a mosaic paved chamber (2.9 x 3.7 m). The nave was paved with a mosaic featuring geometric designs. Near the chancel screen there was an entrance to the crypt, marked by a mosaic differing in size of tesserea and color

Dwellings:

The residential wing was built north of the church. This consisted of an ante chamber, three seclusion cells and a two story tower (see above) which may have been a dormitory. The seclusion cells were small, averaging 2.5 m² and could be locked from the inside. The excavators surmise that additional cells existed in the part of the monastery that was destroyed.

Refectory:

The southern room in the second building (12.5 x 2.8 m), paved in stone flags, was probably a refectory.

Latrine/s:

Part of a latrine was preserved with an outlet that led outside the monastery to the north.

Burials:

A rock-cut burial cave, probably from 3rd century CE predated the foundation of the monastery. It consisted of a rectangular cavity 1.90 x 0.85 m with arcosolia hewn in two of its sides, each with a single burial. The tomb had been attributed to a woman and hallowed. In the second phase, the burial chamber was expanded to the east and another arcosolium added beneath the apse, forming a large complex crypt. Skeletons of several women were found in the crypt.

Storage facilities:

See below (caves).

Cave/s:

A cave is located in the courtyard that separated the two buildings of the complex. The cave was apparently used for storage.

Kitchen:

A kitchen was located in the eastern part of building B attested by cooking facilities (hearths) and vessels.

Hostelry:

The excavator suggested that the two northern rooms of building B might have served as lodgings for pilgrims. The kitchen and refectory were located in the same building.

Water installations:

Three rock-hewn cisterns were discerned. A bell-shaped cistern, plastered with hydraulic plaster, was located in the eastern part. A large settling basin and channels and gutters led to this cistern which collected water from the eastern part of building B. A second cistern was located in the northern courtyard and collected water from the residential area. A third west of the complex, collecting water from the courtyard and building B. The capstone of this cistern was found (not in situ).

Agricultural and industrial installations:

Two olive presses and a winepress were found in the vicinity of the monastery.

Small finds

Small finds:

Category	Description
Pottery	krater; basins; bowls; jars; cup; juglet; casserole; cooking pot; flask
Glass	A glass medallion; small bottles
Oil lamps	Clay lamps
Metal objects	A small bronze funnel used to fill lamps with oil; kohl stick; cymbals
Jewelry	A bronze, cross shaped pendant found in the crypt; metal and glass bracelets and numerous beads from the graves dated to the Middle ages.

Detailed description

Dimensions:

Total area (sqm)	Size class
2,000	Large

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Materials applied (roofing):

tiles

timber

Components

Enclosing wall

Gate/s:

Rolling stone:

at cave

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

Dwelling type:

cells

Number of stories:

Latrines

Storage caves

Hostelry

Tombs type:

Burial chamber

Arcosolium

Agricultural installations:

oil press\es [=o/p]

wine press\es [=w/p]

Terraces [=t]

Water installations:

Cisterns

Channels

Architectural evolution

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Abandonment

Phase name (as published):

Third phase

General outline:

The complex became a nunnery in the fifth century CE. It consisted of two buildings, courtyards, a tower, agricultural installations. The chapel predated the foundation of the monastery.

Dating material:

Architecture, pottery and other finds.

Phase date

Century:

5th c.

Within century:

Late

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Phase name (as published):

Fourth phase

General outline:

Dated to sixth century CE. In this phase, new mosaic floors were laid in the church, the apse and the southeastern room (colorful, made of small white, black, grey, yellow, green, blue, orange and burgundy tesserae). Motifs: alternating square and circular medallions populated by fauna and flora (fruit). In this phase, several changes were made to the residential area. A number of cells were added and the corridors were made smaller.

Dating material:

Style of the mosaics, and pottery.

Phase date

Century:

6th c.

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Phase name (as published):

Fifth phase

General outline:

The monastery continued to function into the Early Islamic period. Dated to the eighth century. A new entrance was built.

Dating material:

Iconoclastic damage.

Phase date

Century:

8th c.

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Yes

Iconoclastic evidence comments:

The human and animal figures were defaced. The excavator attributes it to emperor Leo III (717-741 CE) but it could and probably should be attributed to the Caliph Yazid II (721 CE).The damage to the mosaics was repaired with coarse tesserae and plaster.

General outline:

The monastery was abandoned in the late ninth century.

Dating material:

Pottery and other finds.

Phase date

Century:

9th c.

Within century:

Late

Iconoclastic evidence

Iconoclastic evidence:

Yes

Post Arab conquest history:

Still in use

Post conquest history comments:

Late ninth century- the convent was abandoned and continued to be used as a burial site for infants and girls from the surrounding villages.