Jerusalem (Extra mural) - Ketef Hinnom
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Jerusalem (Extra mural)
Identification:
Barkay suggest to identify the church with the church f St. George, based on a Byzantine inscription in a burial cave in Hinom Valley that mentions a church of this name located outside the city walls. Avner and Zelinger disagree with him.
Church name:
Ketef Hinnom
Functional Type:
Unknown
Dedication:
St. George?
Church type:
Basilical - Free standing basilica
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
221.38
630.76
Coordinates, ICS system:
171.38
1,130.76
Geographical region:
Jerusalem (extra-mural)
Distance from Roman roads:
Built on the ancient road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Jerusalem
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Archaeological remains
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
1940 | |
Various excavators | 1970-1990 |
Avner, R. and Zelinger, Y. | 1999 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
A basilical church with a narthex dameged by robbing in the Ottoman period and a the building of a modern road. Church is reconstructed as a nave wth two aisles. Dimensions: 45X25 m. approx. Thw 1999 excavtion reconstruct the church as a nave with two pairs of aisles in each side. Diemensions: 45X35.1 m.
Description
Illustrative material:
Narthex:
Cotaines three burial troughn decoratd by fresco and a crypt. Were probably covered by a floor that did not survive.
Lateral walls:
Support walls, built on top of roman graves, were found agaist the north and west walls of the church.
Nave:
Remains of a northen and southern stylobate. Next to the southern one is a plastered chanel leading west to a basin sunken in th floor.
Aisles:
Built against the northen wall, under the aisle floor, is a tomb.
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
An elevated bema.
Lateral spaces:
A closed room located north of the apse was identified during the 1999 excavation. Approx diemensions: 6.5X3.8 m.
Crypt: See in the Detailed Description, crypt
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Oil lamps | A fragment of oil lamp with a Greek inscription was found. |
Coins | A 5th-6th century coin was found under the floor of one of the water installtion outsdie the church. |
Pottery | Byzanntine pottery annd roof tiles were found in the filles next to the support walls. |
Bones | The human bones found in the graves belong to eight indivduals, badly preserved. |
Coins | Date the church umtill at least the persian conquest. |
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Narthex:
Yes
Crypt
Accessibility and description:
A vaulted crypt to the S of three burial troughs located under the narthex.
Function:
Burial crypt.
Architectural Evolution
| Dating material | Phase no. | Century | Within century |
|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 | 6th c. | ||
Coins date the church to as late as the Persian coquest. | Abandonment | 7th c. | First half |
Post Arab conquest history:
Abandoned
Post conquest history comments:
Coins date the church to as late as the Persian coquest.
A large cistern, cut into rock and plastered, was found north of the church. In 1999 several water channel and plastered installation were founs north and eart of the church. The excavators believe there a part of a system to collect rain water off the roof of the church.