Zarafend; Tsurufa - South Church
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Zarafend; Tsurufa
Church name:
South Church
Functional Type:
Parochial
Church type:
Chapel - With an annexed room
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
19,433,100.00
72,835,700.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
145.00
228.00
Geographical region:
Coastal plain
Topographical location:
The church is built on a rocky slope south-west of the ruin and at a distance of ca. 120 m from the mosque.
Distance from nearest settlement:
Area of Atlit
Distance from Roman roads:
On the Via Maris
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Dora
Source of knowledge
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Y. 'Olami, on behalf of ASI | 1969 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The church wasn't published. The plan, published by Ovadiah, was presented by Y. Olami from the archive of Association of the Archaeological Survey of Israel. The foundations of the walls were partially hewn from the limestone bedrock. The chapel has a plain plan of a hall (4.5x10 m with a narthex, but without the apse and lateral room). An apse, a narthex and a lateral room were attached to the chapel. The protruding apse was built from limestone ashlars. From the western side a narthex is attaching, with the central doorway, to which two hewn steps are leading. From the southern side a lateral room of a length of the chapel hall was attached. No mosaic floor was so far revealed, but probably it would be found if the chapel will be ever excavated.
Description
Illustrative material:
Narthex:
4.5x2 m
Façade and entries:
the only one revealed entrance -- is a central one in the narthex (its western wall), with steps leading to it
Lateral spaces:
From the southern side a room was attached. Its floor was hewn in the bedrock and smoothed.
Small finds
Small finds illustrative material:
Architectural Evolution
| Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|
Phase 1 | Early Christian / Byzantine |
Abandonment | Unknown |
There are some burial caves in the vicinity of the chapel