Ein es-Sakhari - Monastery

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Monastery name, type, category
Site Name: 
Ein es-Sakhari
Monastery name: 
Monastery
Monastery type: 
Cenobium
Monastery category: 
Isolated in the countryside
Location
Coordinates, ITM system: 
22,359.00
61,639.00
Coordinates, ICS system: 
17,359.00
11,639.00
Geographical region: 
Judean Desert fringes
Provincial affiliation: 
Palaestina I
Bishopric: 
Jerusalem
Topographical location: 
Cliff
Soils: 
Rocky limestone
Distance from nearest bishop-seat: 
ca. 16 km (Jerusalem)
Distance from nearest settlement: 
ca. 0.2 km (Thecoa)
Distance from Roman roads: 
ca. 0.5 km from the road leading south from Jerusalem.
Source of knowledge
Epigraphy
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Surveyed site
Surveyors: 
NameDate
Hirschfeld
1984
Bibliograpy: 
Schick, C. and Benzinger, I., 1896
145-220
Hirschfeld, Y., 1985
58-60
Hirschfeld, Y., 1990
62
Tsafrir, Y., Di Segni, L. and Green, J., 1994
117
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012
149
Abbreviation for Journals and Series
State of certainty: 
Archaeologicaly definitive
General description
Illustrative material: 
Hide General description
Paths: 

A paved path leads to the site from the direction of the monastery of Chariton. This path continues in the direction of other monastic sites further along the valley.

Enclosing walls: 

On its western side, the monastery is bounded by a massive wall.

Gate/s: 

The entrance to the monastery was probably located at its eastern end where there is a natural fissure in the rock.

Dwellings: 

In the eastern part of the monastery, remains of dwelling cells were observed.

Water installations: 

The site is located near the spring of 'Ein es-Sakhari (The Spring of the Rock). A pool (5.6 x 0.9 m) was constructed near the spring. A cistern was located in the eastern part of the site.

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Detailed description
Dimensions: 
Total area (sqm)Size class
350
Small
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Materials applied (walls): 
Limestone
Materials applied (roofing): 
timber
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Enclosing wall
Monastery church: 
Church typeDiakonikonLink to church sectionChurch location
No traces
Dwelling type: 
cells
Number of stories: 
2
Built paths
Water installations: 
Cisterns
Spring
Architectural evolution
General outline: 
Remains of a two story structure and of dwelling cells were identified in the survey. The monastery is not known from early sources. It can be surmised that it was founded sometime in the late fifth or early sixth century.
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Century: 
5th-6th c.
Post conquest history comments: 
The date of abandonment is not known. The monastery was active in the early 9th c., having been mentioned in the Comemoratorium de Casis Dei. However, it is not known if this was a new settlement of monks at the site or the continuation of the original settlement.