Beit Nattif - church (?)
Church Name, type, function
Site Name:
Beit Nattif
Identification:
Bēt nattīf; Beit Nettîf; Beit Nattīf; Beit Nettif; Bet Naṭif; Beit Naṭṭif; Bayt Nattif.
The settlement was identified as Betholetepha (Βεθλετηφων), which was a capital of a toparchy of Judea in Roman times (War 4:445; Pliny, NH V, 70). It was inhabited mainly with Christians during the Byzantine period. Previousely Guérin (1868–69 II: 375–376; III: 330) offered to identify it with biblical Netophah (Ezra 2:22; Neh. 7:26). Baramki thought that the closeness of Sheikh's Abdallah weli could be connected with the early Byzantine cult.
Church name:
church (?)
Functional Type:
Unknown
Church type:
Unknown
Location
Coordinates, ITM system:
14,980.00
12,278.00
Coordinates, ICS system:
19,980.00
62,278.00
Geographical region:
Shephelah
Topographical location:
The site is situated in the northern part of the Ellah Valley
Distance from Roman roads:
on the ancient road between Beth Guvrin-Eleutheropolis and Jerusalem
Provincial affiliation:
Palaestina I
Bishopric:
Eleutheropolis
Source of knowledge
Literary sources:
Literary sources
Archaeological remains
Surveyed site
Surveyors:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Guerin | 1860s |
Conder and Kitchener | 1860s |
Sejourne | 1890s |
Thomsen | 1900s |
Abel | 1930s |
Klein | 1930s |
Bagatti | 1960s |
Avi-Yonah | 1970s |
Dagan | 2000s |
Excavated site
Excavators:
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
Baramki | 1933-4 |
Bibliograpy:
II: 375-6, III: 330 | |
III: 24 | |
263 | |
33 | |
II, 153 | |
119-121, Pl. LXIX | |
5 | |
40 | |
151 | |
94 | |
84 | |
138-139 | |
291-308, 315, 319-322, nos. 367-375, 377-378, 380, 383.2, 388-389, especially 292-294, no. 370.1 |
General description
State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:
In 1933 Baramki had revealed a rectangular buildings with benches along it inner perimeter. The floors were decorated with colorful mosaic floor (3.2×2.2 m; oriented north–south). Baramki had supposed it could be a church.
Dagan had also discovered the remains of the other buildings on the hill looking towards the western slopes of Hebron hills. Mosaic and plenty of various architectural members were found scattered at the site. Dagan had supposed it could be a church.
Description
Illustrative material:
Façade and entries:
Into the building, which was found by Baranki, there were two entrances: one in the center of the eastern wall, the other - on the eastern part of the northern wall.
Small finds
Small finds:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
Oil lamps | Plenty of Roman and Byzantine lamps. |
Small finds illustrative material:
Detailed description
Structure
Materials applied (walls):
Limestone
Water cistern:
Yes
Colonnades / Arcades:
Colonnade
Capital types:
Corinthian
Architectural Evolution
| Phase name (as published) | General outline | Phase no. | Century |
|---|---|---|---|
Byzantine | Pottery | Phase 1 | Unknown |
Abandonment | Unknown |
Probably, two churches were built at the site.