El-Khirbe - Church
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
El-Khirbe
Identification:
Hizmi, the excavator, had identified the place with Biblical Gilgal (Josh. 15:7). The site contained also Iorn Age remains, which indirectly make such identification possible.
Church name:
Church
Functional Type:
Monastic
Church type:
Chapel
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
22,745.00
63,023.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
17,745.00
13,023.00
Geographical region:
Judean Hills
Topographical location:
on the hilltop
Distance from nearest settlement:
2 km to the east from Abu Dis
Distance from Roman roads:
to the south from the Roman road, connected Jerusalem and Jericho
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Jerusalem
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Literary sources
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Magen, Finkelshtein | 1993 |
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Hizmi | 1995 |
Bibliograpy:
344, 383-4, no. 500 | |
pp. 52-3, no. 192 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
The Byzantine complex (general area measured of 500 sq. m.) was located on the western slope of the hill. It consisted of a hospice, one-aisled chapel, a residential and service unit (on the southern site). The chapel (12.5×6.5 m) was rectangular in its outer form. The single apse was inscribed into the straight eastern wall. In its western part a single square pier was reconstructed (?). The prayer hall was paved with white mosaic, which was only partially preserved. The floors of the hostel rooms were also paved with white plain mosaic.
Description
Illustrative material:
Façade and entries:
There were two entrances, which led to the chapel: the one on the northern wall (towards the main road); the other on the southern wall (towards the hospice rooms).
Bema, chancel screen and apse:
one-stepped bema, semicircular apse
Small finds
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Orientation:
Facing east
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Architectural Evolution
| Phase name (as published) | Dating material | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|---|
Byzantine | Pottery reading | Phase 1 | Early Christian / Byzantine |
Abandonment | Unknown |