19406 - Gevat; Gebata - church (?)

A coplex of buildings comprising of several mosaic paved rooms. On the western part of the excavation there are three rooms. The mosaic floor of the central room held a medallion (disfigurred by a later circular intrussion of a tabun or a limekiln). The eastern excavation bulk is rising above a step, suggesting that the room extended farther to the eastColumn fragments protruding from the western excavation bulk, and a screen post found lying on the floor, may suggest the existance of a colonnaded hall (a nave?), to the west. If so, the room with the medallion might have been a bema, or quadrilinear sanctuary of a basilical church. The two rooms flanking it on the north and south, might have been, then, two pastophoria, located at the ends of two aisles. Another mosaic-paved room, partially exposed, was located to the south of the southern aisle. In the eastern part of the excavated area, to the east of the "Medallion room", was uncovered a W-E rectangular hall, entered from the west. The sill is well preserved. Benches extended on either side of the entrance against the western wall and along the southern wall. Its location to the east of the presume basilica may suggest that it belonged to a monastery. To its north-east a small section of another room or hall, similarly oriented, was exposed. Another oblong structure located to the south, with a bench and a niche installed in its southern wall, may suggest that this was a mahrab of a mosque. The walls of the various structures were preserved to an elevation of 1-2 courses.