11973 - Ascalon Barnea - Barnea

Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Ascalon Barnea

Church name:

Barnea

Functional Type:

Monastic

Church type:

Basilical - Basilica with an annexed chapel

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

159.00

621.99

Coordinates, ICS system:

108.99

1,122.00

Geographical region:

Southern Coastal Plain

Distance from nearest settlement:

About 2.5 km north of Tel Ascalon.

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Source of knowledge

Epigraphy:

HideEpigraphy

Text number	Summary
1	Dated mosaic building inscription with Psalm quotation set within a rectangle, on the eastern border of the western pavement. 493/4 CE.
2	Dated mosaic building inscription of the diaconicon set in a rectangular frame, in the centre of the eastern room. 9 May 499 CE.
3	One-line inscription with Psalm quotation, in the western side of the mosaic carpet of the diaconicon.

Archaeological remains

Excavated site

Excavators:

Name	Date
Tzaferis V., Myron D.	1966-7

Bibliograpy:

Tzaferis, V., 1967
Tzaferis, V., 1968
Tzaferis, V., 1971
Bagatti, B., 1974
Ovadiah, A. and De Silva, C. G., 1981
Michel, V., 2004	Vol. 2, 2021, Vol. 3, p. 42, Figs. 27-28.
Patrich, J., 2006

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

According to Tzaferis it was a basilica with an annexed chapel; badly preserved. It was only partially excavated and poorely published. The excavated part measured 6x10.40 m.

Description

Illustrative material:

Category	Description
Pottery	Byzantine vessels
Inscription - see under epigraphy	Three Greek inscriptions

Detailed description

Structure

Orientation:

Facing east

Narthex:

Yes

Attached structures

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon:

Quadrangular chapel

Prothesis chapel / Diakonikon description:

Only the northern rectangular chapel, 10.4x6m in dimensions (with no apse) and a vestibule to its west, extending south towards the narthex, were uncovered. This hall is dubbed in inscr. no. 1 of Tzaferis (1971) diakonikon, speaking about its construction from the foundations, and its paving. The inscription, in a square frame, was found in the center of the hall. Inscr. no. 3 of Tzaferis, dated to 493/4 CE, was found in the narthex, in front of the entrance to the hall. It speaks about the construction and paving of the narthex. V. Michel (2004) is also of the opinion that this structure was a northern annex of a lost basilical church.

Architectural Evolution

General outline	Dating material	Phase no.	Century	Within century
	Epigraphy. The floor inscription of the attached chapel, identifying it as a diakonikon, is dated to 498-499 CE . The narthex mosaic inscription is dated to 493-494 CE.	Phase 1	5th c.	Late
No information is available about the abandonment date of the church.		Abandonment	Unknown

Conclusions:

The basilica itself was not exposed. The E part of the annexed chapel was not preserved, so there is no way to know if it was apsidal or quadrangular in shape. Its floor inscription, identifying it as a diakonikon, is dated to 498-499 CE . The narthex mosaic inscription is dated to 493-494 CE.