17222 - Ḥalḥūl - church (?)

Church Name, type, function

Site Name:

Ḥalḥūl

Identification:

Halhoul; Hŭlhŭl; Ḥalḥūl. Halhul is generally known as a biblical town in the territory of the Tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:58). The modern settlement was built over the remains of Alula (Άλοΰρος), which was mentioned by Josephus (Άλούρου, War 4:522) and by Hieronymus (Hieronymus, On. 87:12). See more about identification: Thomsen 1907: 20; Abel 1933–38 II: 341; Avi-Yonah 1976: 28; Tabula: 61.

Church name:

church (?)

Functional Type:

Unknown

Dedication:

Unknown

Church type:

Unknown

Location

Coordinates, ITM system:

21,049.00

60,949.00

Coordinates, ICS system:

21,049.00

60,949.00

Geographical region:

Hebron Hills

Topographical location:

In the village of Ḥalḥul

Distance from nearest settlement:

ca. 6 km to the north from Hebron

Distance from Roman roads:

near the ancient road connecting Hebron and Bethlehem

Provincial affiliation:

Palaestina I

Bishopric:

Jerusalem

Source of knowledge

Literary sources:

Literary sources

Archaeological remains

Surveyed site

Surveyors:

Name	Date
Robinson and Smith	1850s
Guerin	1860s
Conder and Kitchener	1860s
Mader	1910s
Kochavi et als	1967/8
Möller and Schmitt	1970s
Avi-Yonah	1960-70s

Bibliograpy:

Thomsen, P., 1907	20
Robinson, E. and Smith. E., 1857	280-1
Guérin, V., 1869	III: 284-7
Conder, C. R. and Kitchener, H. H., 1881	SWP III: 305, 329-330
Mader, A. E., 1918	35-8
Avi-Yonah, M., 1933	159, no. 84
Kochavi, M., 1972	55, no. 103
Möller, C. and Schmitt G., 1976	12-13
Avi-Yonah, M., 1984
Magen, Y. and Kagan, E. D., 2012	174-5, no. 274

Abbreviation for Journals and Series

General description

State of preservation/which parts were uncovered:

Early surveyors had observed the remains of an Early Byzantine church, which were incorporated into a building under the name ʿAked el-Kin, in the northeast part of the modern village. Also some remnants of floor mosaic were visible, consisting of white tesserae in the northwestern corner of the building, mosaic segment (7.7×0.5 m) with frame and circle and partially preserved Greek inscription in the medallion. Any traces of the church were completely destroyed in the 1980s, without having been documented.

Description

Illustrative material:

Illustrative_material

Photos

Small finds

Detailed description

Structure

Materials applied (walls):

Limestone

Architectural Evolution

Phase name (as published)	Phase no.	Century
Byzantine	Phase 1	Unknown
	Abandonment	Unknown