The Byzantine City of Shivta (Esbeita), Negev Desert, Israel 9780860542315, 9781407332925

Citation preview

The Byzantine City of Shivta (Esbeita), Negev Desert, Israel

Arthur Segal

BAR International Series 179

1983

B.A.R.

122 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7BP, England

GENERAL EDITORS A.R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D .Phil. D .R • Walker, M.A.

B.A.R.-s179,1983 : 'The Byzantine City of Shivta '

©

Arthur Segal,198J

The author’s moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher. ISBN 9780860542315 paperback ISBN 9781407332925 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860542315 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

C ONTENTS

P age

v ii

P REFACE L IST O F

I LLUSTRATIONS

C HAPTER

I

— I NTRODUCTION

C HAPTER

I I

— T HE T OWN P LAN

C HAPTER

I II

— H OUSE A T T HE

C HAPTER

I V

— T HE S TABLE H OUSE

i x 3 1 1 P OOL

C HAPTER V

— T HE N ORTH H OUSE

C HAPTER V I

— T HE G OVERNOR'S H OUSE A ND T HE

B IBLIOGRAPHY

3 3 8 7 1 27 C ENTRAL C HURCH

1 51 2 07

P REFACE A ncient S hivta w as s elected b y t he C lassical D ivision o f t he D epartment o f A rchaeology o f t he B en-Gurion U niversity o f t he N egev i n B eer-Sheva

a s

t he

s ubject

N egev U rban S ettlement

c hoice w as S hivta b ecause, b est

o f a l ong-range

a nd A rchitecture o f

i nvestigation.

t o

r each,

i s o utstanding,

i n a ll

t o i ts a rchitecture,

p ertains

t he a rchitectural s tudies: t ure.

d ecoration.

" The T he

i s

t he

y et b een s ubject

f or t he m ost

t herefore,

i t

p art,

i n t he

f or i ts u nity o f

s tyle

t he k inds o f b uildings,

T his m onograph c ontains

a nd

t wo p reliminary

o f S hivta's c ity p lan a nd i ts p ub lic a nd d omestic a rchitecI n t he f irst

b y m eans s tage,

a nd h as n ot

S hivta w as b uilt,

B yzantine p eriod a nd t hat

p roject:

o f t he N egev B yzantine c ities,'

p reserved a nd t he e asiest

t o s erious

r esearch

t he B yzantine P eriod".

o f a n a erial

s tage,

w e h ave d ealt w ith t he c ity p lan o f

p hotograph a nd a s urvey o f t he a rea.

w hen t he p roper r esources w ill b e a vailable,

c orrected a nd

A t

S hivta a l ater

t he p lan w ill

b e

i mproved b y o n-the-spot m easurements.

A s t o t he p ublic a nd d omestic a rchitecture w e h ave b egun b y m easuring, s ketching a nd a nalyzing t he a rchitecture o f t he C entral C hurch,

t he G overnor's H ouse a nd t hree o f

I n

s pite

o f

t he

f act

t he c ity 's

t hat o ur w ork a t

S hivta

d wellings. i s o nly

i nitial s tages, w e h ave d ecided t o p ublish t hese f irst o rder t o b ring t he r esults o f o ur w ork t o t hose w ho a re T he

m aterial

p eriod o f t he

w ill

p ublished u ntil

n ow o n

t he N egev c ities

i n

i n

i ts

s tudies i n i nterested. t he B yzantine

i s v ery s cant, s o w e d eem i t a ppropriate t o p ublish t he r esults i nvestigations w hich w e h ave c arried o ut.

W e g ive

i ntend t o c ontinue t his p rocedure a nd t he n ext p ublication t he r esults o f a n i nvestigation o f t wo m ore d wellings a nd a

r eview o f t he a rchitectural

d ecoration o f S hivta.

v ii

A .

L IST O F F IGURES F OR C HAPTERS

I -III

F igure 1 .

S ource

S hivta

R egion

P age

D rawn b y M r.

P .

i ng t o m ap:

S hivta

L upan,

a ccord-

4 7

( 11-03),

1 :20,000 2 .

T he

N egev

c ities

i n

t he

D rawn b y a uthor

4 8

B yzantine p eriod 3 .

S hivta,

a erial

p hoto

s cale

F antomap C o.,

J erusalem,

1 978

4 9

o f T ih

5 0

1 :1000 4 .

S hivta,

c ity p lan

( according

E .H.

t o P almer)

5 .

S hivta,

c ity p lan

( according

6 .

S hivta,

Q St

1 ( 1871), M usil,

c ity p lan

( according

A rabia P etraea,

S hivta,

c ity

p lan

( according

1 907,

p p.

2

5 0

3 6-44,

C .L. W oolley, T .E. L awrence, 5 1 T he W ilderness o f Z in, P EF A nnual ( 3), 9 1, f ig. 9 .

t o W iegand)

P EF

p p.29-33

( Edom), W ien, f ig. 1 5.

t o W oolley a nd L awrence)

7 .

T he D esert

t he C ountry o f M oab,

A .

t o M usil)

P almer,

a nd

1 914-1915,

T h. W iegand, L eipzig, 1 920,

p p.

7 2-

S inai, B erlinp p. 6 6-83, f ig.

5 1

6 7 . 8 .

S hivta,

c ity

c onfiguration

( according t o C olt

E xpedition)

D rawn B rown,

u p a nd s ketched b y o f

t he C olt

P ublished

w ith

p ermission o f

D .F.

5 2

E xpedition. t he

k ind

t he D epartment o f

A ntiquities a nd M useums. 9 .

S hivta,

" Insula

( according

I I"

t o C olt

P lan

S ame a s a bove

5 3

5 4

E xpedition)

1 0.

S hivta, N orth C hurch p lan ( according t o C olt E xpedition)

S ame a s a bove

1 1.

S hivta,

C .L. W oolley, o p. c it., f ig.

C entral

C hurch

" Governor's H ouse"

a nd

( according)

T .E. 1 7.

L awrence,

5 5

t o W oolley a nd L awrence) 1 2.

T h.

W iegand,

S hivta, S outhern C hurch ( according t o C olt E xpedition)

C .

B aly,

S hivta,

D rawn u p a nd

S hivta,

C entral

C hurch

" Governor's H ouse"

a nd

o p.cit.,

f ig.

7 5.

5 5

( according

t o W iegand) 1 3.

1 4.

t o a erial

c ity

p lan ( according

p hoto,

o riginal

s cale

1 :1000

x i

1 935,

p p.

S 'baita, 1 71-181,

P EF p l.

Q St.,

5 6

I V.

s ketched b y M r.

B .

B rimer. C orrected b y a uthor t o t he f indings o f t he s urvey.

5 7

F igure

S ource P ublished

P age

w ith

M r.

B rimer's

k ind c onsent. 1 5.

C onfiguration p lan o f t he c ity's b uilt-up ( according t o o riginal s cale

1 6.

S hivta; t he

S hivta; a reas

a erial 1 :1000).

5 8

S ame a s a bove

5 9

S ame a s a bove

6 0

p hoto,

c onfiguration p lan o f

s quares,

D rawn u p a nd s ketched b y a uthor

s treets

a nd

p ublic a reas ( according t o a erial p hoto, o riginal s cale 1 :1000). 1 7.

1 8.

S hivta;

c onfiguration p lan o f

t he b locs a ccording t o

a nd a erial

o riginal

1 :1000).

s cale

soS hivta; a n a ttempt o f a n i m etric p artial r econstruction ( reduced,

1 8a.

q uarters p hoto,

f rom o riginal

K horazin, c ity a erial p hoto)

p lan

S ketched B uonamico,

b y A rchitect B eer-Sheva

A .

6 1

1 :500)

( based o n

Z . Y eivin, a nd G olan P eriod o f t he

S urvey o f G alilee 6 2 S ettlements i n t he

t heMishnah

S ources,

i n L ight

J erusalem,

o f

1 971

( Dissertation)

( Hebrew)

f ig.

1 3.

w ith

k ind

P ublished

h is

c onsent. 1 9.

M amshit,

c ity p lan

D rawn

u p a nd s ketched b y E ngi-

6 3

n eer A . O rwieder. P ublished t hrough t he g enerosity o f P rof. A . N egev , I nstitute o f A rchaeol ogy, H ebrew U niversity, J erus alem 2 0.

M amshit, ( reduced,

2 1.

A vdat, o riginal

2 2.

S hivta,

F antomap C o.,

a erial p hoto o riginal 1 :1000).

A erial P hoto

( reduced

S hivta,

1 979

6 4

S ame a s a bove

6 5

1 :1000). 3 d wellings

C .L.

( according

2

d wellings

( a,

W oolley,

o p.cit.,

t o W oolley a nd L awrence) 2 3.

J erusalem,

T h.

b )

f igs.

W iegand,

T .E.

L awrence,

6 6

f ig.

6 7

1 0-12.

o p.cit.,

6 0.

( according t o W iegand). 2 4.

S hivta,

D rawn

" Pool H ouse" p lan

u p

A rchitect

. a nd J .

s ketched

b y 6 7

S hereshevsky a nd

t he a uthor 2 5.

S hivta,

" Pool H ouse"

D rawn

s ections

x ii

u p

a nd

s ketched

b y 6 8

F igure

S ource P age A rchitect J . S hereskevsky a nd A .

2 6.

S hivta,

" Pool

H ouse",

a ttempt o f a p artial r econstruction. 2 7.

a n

B uonamico

S ame

6 9

a s a bove

i sometric

S hivta, t he r oofing s ystem i n B yzantine b uilding ( according

T h.

W iegand,

o p.cit.,

f ig.

6 5

7 0

t o W iegand). 2 8.

A vdat,

" Cave-House",

p lan

D rawn

u p

a nd

s ketched

b y 7 1

A rchitect A . E ngel. P ublished t hrough t he k indness o f P rof. A . 2 9.

Avdat,

3 0.

C haqqa

" Cave-House", a nd

d wellings,

s ection

D ouma, p lans

a nd

S ame a s a bove

S yria,

M .

L a S yrie C entrale,

C haqqa,

p l.

S yria,

B asilica,

c onstructed i sometric 3 2.

3 3.

r e-

s ection

C haqqa,

S yria,

b uilding,

r econstruction

Q aisarieh o f

S hivta, " Pool-House", g eneral a ppearance f rom t he w est

S hivta, " Pool-House", t he a rched e ntrance, l ooking f rom t he e ast

3 5.

d e V ogue,

W .H.

W addington, P aris,

7 2

1 856,

X II

M .

d e V ogue,

o p.

c it.,

p l.

N i .

d e V ogue,

o p.

c it.,

p .

W .H.

W addington,

73

W addington,

7 4

X VI W .H. 4 7,

f ig.

1 2

I llustrations 3 3-45 a re p hotographs t aken b y A rchitect J .

3 4 .

7 1

r econ-

s tructions 3 1.

N egev.

7 5

S herechevsky 7 6

i nto t he c ourtyard.

S hivta,

" Pool-House",

d ividing w all b etween n o.

t he

7 5

1 05-

1 06. 3 6.

S hivta, " Pool H ouse", s outhe ast c orner o f c ourtyard. N ote t he a rched e ntrance a nd t wo

k inds

o f

s tone

i n

7 7

t he

s outh w all. 3 7.

S hivta, f rom t he s ection r ooms

3 8.

S hivta,

" Pool-House", v iew n orth-west o nto a o f

n o.

t he c ourtyard

a nd

1 10- 1 11. " Pool-House",

r oom

n o.110. N ote t he p ilasters, c ornices a nd t he b eginning o f t he a rches. s izes

7 7

T he p hoto e mpha-

t he d ifference

b etween

7 8

F igure t he

S ource

e xcellent w orkmanship

P age

o f

t he s tones o f t he p ilasters a nd a rches a nd t he c rude w ork i n t he w all s tones. 3 9.

S hivta, " Pool-House", d oorpost b ase a t t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 10.

7 9

4 0 .

S hivta, " Pool-House", f ragmen t o f t he c ourtyard p aving.

8 0

4 1.

S hivta,

8 0

" Pool-House",

t he

l arge n iche i n t he w all s eparating t he c ourtyard f rom r oom

n o.

1 09. o ne o f

8 1

" Pool-House",

s ection

8 2

s tone g utter

a t

4 2.

S hivta, " Pool-House", t he s mall n iches.

4 3.

S hivta, o f

t he

t he

c istern e ntrance. 4 4.

8 3

S hivta, " Pool-House", p ilast er's c ornice d ecorated w ith " Dog-tooth".

4 5.

S hivta, c apital r oom

n o.

8 3

" Pool-House", c orner a t n orth entrance to 1 04.

xi v

B .

L IST O F F IGURES

F OR C HAPTER

I V

F igure

S ource

1 .

S hivta,

S rable-House,

p lan

P .

2 .

S hivta,

S table-House,

c ross-section A -A.

3 .

4 .

5 .

S table-House,

Shivta,

S hivta,

c ross-section B -B

S table-House,

S hivta,

c ross-section C -C

S table-House,

p artial

i sometric

r econstruction 6 .

S hivta, s treet

7 .

S table-House, e astward

S hivta,

S table-House,

w ard

t he c ourtyard,

t o

and t he e ntrances n o. 8 .

S table-House, t he c ourtyard,

8 w hich

a re

n o.

t he

r ooms

N ote

i ntact

i n

S hivta,

n o.

n o.

L upan,

A .

S egal,

1 03

B .

T on A .

S egal,

1 04

T on,

1 05

P .

L upan,

B .

T on

B .

B rimer,

O .

D egani 1 06

1 07

r ow o f

i n t he

s table w hich

original S hivta, d ividing

1 09

2 a nd n o.

3 ,

o f t he d welling a rch p reserved P hoto b y Y .

7 i n

1 10

t he

s till

b ears

s maller s paces

n o.

6 ).

11

Note

o f

t he P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin 1 12

v iew n orthwestN ote t he w all

t he s table h all

t wo

G ovrin

v iew f rom t he

n orthwest p art

s table.

G ovrin

v iew e astward

p illars.

S table-House,

G ovrin

t o t he

r oofing s labs.

i nto t he

G ovrin 1 08

P hoto b y Y .

t he

G ovrin

f rom t he

7 ,

f rom r oom n o.

S table-House,

t o

B .

7 a nd

3 .

S hivta,

w ard

P .

s taircase

v iew

S table-House, s table

t he a rch

1 2.

1 02

P hoto b y Y .

t he b arrel

r oom

e ast t he

S egal,

7 a nd

d welling w ing. 1 1.

A .

T on

s outhern p art

n o.

t he n orthern p art

t he

t he

t o r ooms

i n

S table-House,

w ing.

t o

L upan,

B .

v iew s outhwest-

t hrough r oom n o.

c ourtyard a nd

10.

P .

s taircase

d welling w ing.

S hivta, s outh,

1 01

P hoto b y Y .

S hivta,

i n

t he

t o r ooms

and t he e ntrances

9 .

S egal

v iew s outhwest-

w ard t o

o f t he

A .

P hoto b y Y .

8 .

n o.

L upan,

v iew f rom t he t he c ourtyard

i nto

P age

( rooms

i nto n o.

t he 4 a nd P hoto b y Y .

XV

G ovrin

F ißure 1 3.

S hivta,

S ource S table-House,

P age

v iew s outheast-

1 13

w ard t o t he t hree t roughs. N ote t he q uite c areful c onstruction o f t he p illars a nd t he a rches a nd t he c rude c onstruction o f t he b ase b eneath t he t roughs. 1 4.

1 5.

S hivta, S table-House, s table's e ast w all.

e ntrance

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin

i n t he

1 14

1 15

S hivta, S table-House, t he n orthernm ost p illar i n t he r ow o f p illars i n t he s table.

N ote t he c onstruction o f

t he p illar, e specially h ow t he s tones o f t he a rches a re i ntegrated i nto t he P hoto b y Y .

p illar. 1 6.

S hivta,

P hoto b y Y .

8 .

S table-House,

M amshit

( Kurnub),

B uilding X II 1 9.

M amshit

t he s table

t he s table

M amshit

( Kurnub),

B uilding X II.

t he s table

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin 1 18

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin 1 19

i n

B uilding V l ooking s outheastward. 2 0.

1 17

i n

l ooking n orthward.

( Kurnub),

G ovrin

t he c istern

o pening a nd t he s tone v essel i n t he s outhwest c orner o f t he c ourtyard. 1 8.

1 16

S hivta, S table-House, t he b ases o f t he p ilasters a t t he e ntrances t o r ooms n o. 7 a nd n o.

1 7.

G ovrin

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin 1 20

i n

N ote t he c haracter-

i stic N abatean m ethod o f h ewing P hoto b y Y .

t he s tone. 2 1.

M amshit

( Kurnub),

B uilding V ,

G ovrin 1 21

t he

N abatean s taircase b uilt a round P hoto b y Y .

a r ectangular p ier. 2 2.

K far O djeh,

N orth S yria,

i ntegrated

i nto

1 22

s table

d welling.

H .C.

B utler,

D iv.

I I,

S ec.

B .,

L eyden, 2 3.

2 4 .

G ovrin

K far D ar K ita, N orth S yria, s table o n g round f loor o f l arge h ostelry.

P .U.A.E.S.

A rchitecture, N orthern S yria 1 920,

f ig.

7 0 1 22

H .C.

B utler,

f ig.

1 95

o p.

c it.,

1 23

K far B atuta, N orth S yria, s table i ntegrated i nto s tructure . w hich f unctioned a s

d weling a nd s tore.

x vi

H .C.

B utler,

f ig.

3 78

o p.

c it.,

F igure 2 5.

D eir

S eta,

S ource N orth

S yria,

a s table

1 23

M .

D e.

W .

W addington,

L a

S yrie

P aris, p l.

x vii

P age

1 00

V ogue, C entrale,

1 865, '

V ol.

I I,

C .

L IST O F F IGURES F OR C HAPTER V F igure

1 .

S ource

P age

S hivta, N orth C hurch a rea a nd N orth S quare.

Y .

G ovrin.

2 .

N orth H ouse,

p lan.

P .

L upan,

A .

S egal

1 38

3 .

N orth H ouse,

c ross-sections.

P .

L upan,

A .

S egal

1 39

4 .

N orth H ouse,

i sometric p artial

r econstruction. 5 .

S hivta,

e ntrance

t o

O .

D egani. 1 41

N orth

n orth i nto

v ia t he P hoto b y Y .

c ourtyard. S hivta,

1 40 A rchitect

H ouse. L ooking t he v estibule

6 .

1 37

G ovrin. 1 41

N orth H ouse c ourtyard.

L ooking c ase

s outh

t o

a nd t he

t he

s tair-

s outh w all

t he c ourtyard w hich h as

o f t he

p artially h idden w indow a nd P hoto b y Y .

t he a rched n iche. 7 .

S hivta,

s outhwest

arched

n iche

w hich

t o

i s

t o

a nd r oom

i n

t he t he

n o.

t he

1 03

H ouse's P hoto b y Y .

w est w ing. S hivta,

t o

and

r oom n o.

i ts

t he n orth

t inct p arts: o ne s mall

c an

N ote

t wo

d is-

a s outhern a nd T o t he

c learly

r oom

e ast,

s ee

t he

w hose n ature

c lear

t o

o ne

t rances a nd

1 06.

i nto

a n orthern.

w est

u s.

T o

c an s ee t he t o

n o.

r ooms

1 05 a nd,

e ntrance S hivta,

t o

e n1 04

i n

t he

r oom n o.

t he P hoto b y Y .

1 06.

G ovrin 1 44

N orth H ouse c ourtyard.

L ooking

s outheast

t he s mall a djacent t o e ast

i s t he

n o.

c ourtyard's n orth w all,

9 .

1 43

w ing

t hreshold w hich d ivides

t he c ourtyard

n ot

G ovrin.

N orth H ouse c ourtyard.

L ooking t he

1 42

N orth H ouse c ourtyard .

L ooking e ntrance

8 .

G ovrin.

w all.

t oward

r oom b uilt t he c ourtyard's N ote t he

s tone P hoto b y Y .

t hreshold.

x ix

G ovrin.

F igure 1 0 .

S ource

P age

S hivta, N orth H ouse c ourtyard . L ooking w est f rom t he

1 45

c ourtyard t o t he e ntrances t o r ooms n o. 1 04 a nd n o. 1 05. N ote t he m ethod o f c onstruction o f t he d oorp osts, t he b ases, a nd t he c apitals. I n t he f ace o f t he w all s eparating t he t wo r ooms, o ne c an c learly s ee t he h orizontal s upport ( corbel) a nd, u pon i t, t he f irst s tone o f t he a rch. 1.

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

S hivta, N orth H ouse's w est w ing, r oom n o. 1 03. L ooki ng n orth . N ote t he w ay t he

p ilasters a ttached

1 46

t o

t he w alls a re b uilt, t he c ornices w hich m ark t he e nd o f t he p ilaster a nd t he s tart o f t he a rch, a nd t he n iche. 1 2.

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

S hivta, N orth H ouse, r oom n o. 1 03. L ooking n orth f rom t he r oom i nto t he c ourty ard. N ote t he t hreshold,

1 47

t he d oorposts, t he b ases a nd t he c apitals, a nd, i n t he r oom's e ast w all, t he n iche b uilt o f s tone s labs. T he h orizontal g rooves a tt est t hat a t hin s helf, m ost s tone, h ere.

c ertainly

m ade

o f

h ad b een i nserted T he h ollows a t t he

c orners o f t he t wo s labs p rove t hat t he c loset h ad b een c losed b y w ooden d oors t hat t urned o n m etal p ivots. 1 3.

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

S hivta, N orth H ouse, r oom n o . 1 03. A f ragment o f t he o riginal p avement w hich w as

1 48

P hoto b y Y .

u ncovered.

XX

G ovrin.

D .

L IST O F F IGURES F OR C HAPTER V I F igure

1 .

2 .

P lan o f G overnor's H ouse a nd

D rawn u p b y P .

C entral C hurch

d rafted b y A .

G overnor's

E nlarged f rom f ig.

C hurch, 3 .

S ource

H ouse a nd C entral

P age

L upan.

R eworked a nd177

S egal. 2 .

1 78

a erial p hoto

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch,

i sometric

A rchitect O .

1 79

D egani.

p artial

r estoration 4 .

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch ( according t o W oolley Lawrence).

5 .

C .L.

W oolley,

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral

T h.

C hurch

1 921,

( according t o

W ie-

T .E.

L awrence,

W iegand, f ig.

S inai,

B erlin,

1 80

T he

W ilderness o f Z in, P EF A nnual 1 914-1915, f ig. 1 7.

( 3),

L eipzig180

7 5.

g and) 6 .

N orth C hurch a t

S hivta

R eworked a nd d rafted b y D .F. B rown181 o f t he C olt E xpedition. P ublished b y c ourtesy o f D ept.

o f A ntiquities

a nd Museums. 7 . 8 .

S outh C hurch a t

S hivta

S hivta,

C hurch,

k ing

C entral

C . l oo-

B aly,

P hoto.

S 'baita,

b y Y .

P EQ 1 935,

p l.

I V.181

G ovrin

1 82

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin .

1 83

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin

1 84

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 85

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 86

e astward i nto t he n ar-

t hex a nd t he p rayer h all. 9 .

S hivta,

W est S treet a nd t he

s outhwest n arthex.

c orner o f t he N ote t he b ench.

P art o f t he s treet o pposite t he n arthex i s p aved w ith s tone s labs. 1 0.

S hivta,

C entral

C hurch.

L ooking s outhwest i nto t he p rayer h all a nd t he n arthex. 1.

S hivta, L ooking

C entral f rom

e astward t o a pses.

C hurch.

t he

n arthex

t he w all

N ote

o f

t he

t he

s quare

b ases a nd t he C hurch's p avem ent. 1 2.

S hivta, L ooking

C entral s outh

C hurch.

b eyond

t he

c entral b ema, t he s outh a pse, and t he C hurch's s outh w all. I n

t he b ackground,

H ouse

t he S outh

t ower c an b e s een.

x xi

F igure 1 3.

S ource

S hivta,

C entral

C hurch's

s outh

t rance. y ond

C hurch. w all

L ooking

r oom

n o.

P age

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 87

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 88

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 89

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 90

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin .

1 91

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 92

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 93

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 94

e n-

s outh b e-

3 07 a nd

t he

" lateral r oom" t hreshold ( no. 3 08). N ote t he d ecorated p ilaster b ases. 1 4.

S hivta,

G overnor's

H ouse

P laza a nd S outh H ouse t ower. N ote t he e xcellent p reservat ion

o f

t he t ower a nd

d ecoration

o f

t he

t he

t ower's

s outh e ntrance. 1 5.

S hivta,

S outh H ouse

L ooking t ower

t ower.

f rom i nside t he i nto t he c ourtyard

t hrough t he a rched e ntrance. 1 6.

S hivta,

S outh

t ower. a rch

H ouse

a nd

L ooking s outh t o t he a nd , t he r oofing

s labs

o f t he s econd s torey.

N ote

t he

c onstruction m ethod

t he p ilasters,

o f

t he s tones o f

t he a rch a nd t he w alls. 1 7.

S hivta, y ard.

S outh H ouse c ourtI n i ts c entre, t he

s quare

p illar

a nd,

b eside

i t, t he o pening t o t he c ist ern a nd t he d rainage c hann els. 1 8.

S hivta,

S outh

y ard.

L ooking

H ouse c ourtn orthwest

t oward t he s taircase. t he

b ottom

s even

N ote s tairs

w hich h ave b een p reserved i n s itu a nd t he r emains o f

t he

t wo c rumbled v aults. 1 9.

S hivta, W est

e ast

t o

f rom

t he

S outh

H ouse c ourtyard.

N ote

t he

e ntrance

f rom

t he

c ourtyard

t o

S outh

l eading

H ouse

r oom 2 0.

l ooking H ouse

n o.

3 11

o f W est H ouse.

S hivta,

a

H ouse.

L ooking

r oom n o. a re

r oom

1 03.

s till

i n

S outh

n orth

R oofing s labs

a ttached t o

n orthern w all,

t o

e ven

t he

t hough

F igure

S ource

t heir

s upporting

a rch

P age

h ad

c ollapsed. 2 1.

S hivta,

S outh

y ard. t he r ooms 2 2.

L ooking t ower

H ouse c ourts outh

f rom

t o t he w est

w ing

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 95

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 96

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 97

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin .

1 98

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

1 99

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

2 00

P hoto b y Y .

G ovrin.

2 01

( rooms n o.103-105).

S hivta,

N orth H ouse.

L ook-

i ng f rom E ast S treet w estw ard t o t he c ourtyard a nd t he n orth w ing r ooms. I n t he b ackground i s t he a pses' w all o f C entral C hurch. 2 3.

S hivta,

N orth H ouse.

L ook-

i ng s outh t o t he c ourtyard. N ote t he o pening t o t he c istern a nd r oom n o. t he b ackground,

2 05.

I n

S outh H ouse

c ourtyard a nd t he t ower. 2 4 .

S hivta, N orth H ouse. L ooki ng f rom r oom n o. 2 02 s outhw ard t o t he c ourtyard. t he

w all

H ouse p re-

o f

S outh

s erved t o 2 5.

I n

t he b ackground,

n orth

7 -metre h eight.

S hivta, W est H ouse. L ooking f rom G overnor's H ouse P laza s outh o f

t o t he e ntrance

t he H ouse

( room n o.

N ote t he a rched w hich w as

h all 3 01).

e ntranceway

t he H ouse's o rigi-

n al e ntrance. 2 6.

S hivta,

W est H ouse.

L ooking

s outh i nto t he c ourtyard a nd t he

a rched

i ts

s outh w all.

e ntranceway N ote

i n t he

i nstallation a t t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 2 7.

S hivta,

3 15.

W est H ouse.

L ooking

n orthwest t o r ooms n o. 3 05, n o. 3 08, n o. 3 09 a nd n o.310. I n

t he

C hurch's W est

b ackground, p rayer

S treet.

C entral

h all

a nd

F igure 2 8.

S ource

S hivta, W est H ouse. L ooking P hoto b y Y . n orth t o r ooms n o. 3 09, n o. 3 10 a nd n o. 3 11. I n t he b ackg round, t he a pses o f C entral

P age G ovrin .

2 02

G ovrin.

2 03

C hurch . 2 9.

S hivta, n orth,

W est H ouse. L ooking f rom t he t ower, t o

P hoto b y Y .

r oom n o. 3 11. N ote t he w all s eparating r ooms n o. 3 11 a nd n o.

3 12.

I t

i s p ossible t hat

t his l ow w all o riginally b ore t he t roughs w hich w ere s eparated b y v ault-bearing p illars.

x xiv

C HAPTER I I NTRODUCTION - T HE H ISTORY O F R ESEARCH

1

T o d ate, f ive c ity p lans o f S hivta h ave b een d rawn. T he f irst o f t he S hivta i nvestigators t o d o s o w as t he E nglishman P almer. H e v isited t he s ite i n t he w inter o f 1 870, s tudied i t, a nd d ealt b riefly w ith i ts b uilding p atterns ( 1). P almer's p lan i s v ery s chematic b ut i ts g eneral c onfiguration i s a ccurate ( s. f ig. 4 ).

1 901.

T he C zech O rientalist M ush lv isited t he r uins o f S hivta i n J uly, H e t oo, l ike P almer, e mphasizes t he f ine p reservation o f t he

c ity. T his a ssumption i s e vident i n t he s chematic b ut i mprecise c ity p lan w hich h e p ublished ( s. f ig. 5 ) ( 2). I t i s w orthy o f n ote t hat M usil w as t he f irst o f S hivta's i nvestigators t o a ccompany h is p ublic ations w ith e xcellent p hotographs. T he D ominican m onks J aussen, S avignac a nd V incent l ooked t he s ite o ver i n 1 904 . T hough t hey s howed n o i nterest i n t he p lan o f t he c ity n or e ven s ketched i ts l ayout, t hey d id m ake a n i mportant c ontrib ution t o t he i nvestigation o f t he c ity. I n t he w all o f t he s outhern c hurch t hey d iscovered a n e arly b uilding b lock i n s econdary u se w ith a N abatean d edicatory i nscription o n i t m entioning A retas I V ( 9 B .C.E. 4 0 C .E.), a nd t hus p rovided t he f irst e vidence o f t he e xistence o f a N abatean s ettlement i n S hivta. T hey a lso d iscovered, s outheast o f t he c ity, a c emetery w ith i nscribed s tones, s ome o f w hich w ere d ated ( most b e longing t o t he e nd o f t he 6 th c entury C .E.)

( 3).

I n t he w inter o f 1 914, a bout h alf a y ear b efore t he o utbreak o f W orld W ar I , t wo B ritish a rchaeologists v isited S hivta: W oolley a nd L awrence ( 4). T hey w ere n ot s atisfied w ith a c ritical d escription o f t he c ity's r emains b ut a ttempted t o a scertain i ts e stablishment, c haracter, a nd e conomic f oundation a s w ell a s its a rable l and r esources a nd p roblem o f w ater. T hey

e stimated

d unams, a nd, i nsisted t hat

t he

a rea o f

t he c ity i tself t o

b e

a bout

1 15

i n t heir o pinion, S hivta w as a n u nplanned c ity. T hey t he c ity h ad n ot b een s urrounded b y aw all, t he p remise

o f t heir p redecessors. T hey, o n t he o ther h and, m ade t he p oint t hat t he e xterior w alls o f t he h ouses a nd t he c ourtyards f ormed a n u nbroken l ine w hich c onstituted a s ecurity b elt, a s i t w ere. W here t he s treets l eft t he c ity, g ates w ere i nstalled. I n W oolley 's a nd L awrence's o pinion, t his s ort o f f ortification w as e nough t o w ithstand a ttacks o r B edouin i ncursions. T he B ritish i nvestigators p aid a ttention t o t he p rivate b uilding a nd e specially t o S hivta's t hree c hurches. T hey i ntensively a nalyzed t he s ystems o f b uilding c haracteristic o f d esert a rchitecture a nd d welt o n t he s pecial u sage o f s tone s labs f or r oofing i nstead o f w ooden b eams. T heir m ost t heir m ost

d rawing

i mportant

u p o f t he c ity p lan w hich c onstitutes

p recise a nd c omplete o ne D uring W orld W ar I ,

a

a chievement h owever w as, ( s.

f ig.

w ithout a

d oubt,

t o t his d ay

t he

6 ).

t he G erman A rchaeologist T h. W iegand h eaded

c ommittee f or t he p reservation o f m onuments w hich w orked

a longside

t he T urkish-German m ilitary s taff. L ike h is B rftish p redecessors, t his G erman i nvestigator s urveyed t he c ity w ith p recision, d welt u pon t he

f orms o f b uilding,

p rivate h ouses

( s.

f ig.

d escribed t he t hree c hurches a nd a n umber 7 ,

1 2,

2 3)

( 5).

3

o f

T he f irst a erial p hotos o f S hivta w ere m ade d uring W orld W ar T hey w ere t aken b y t he G erman A ir F orce a nd p ublished a t t he e nd t he w ar a long w ith o ther d ata a bout t he c ity b y T h. W iegand. T he p lan o f

S hivta,

a s

a rranged b y T h.

W iegand,

I . o f

i s w anting.

I t

a ppears t o u s t hat i t w as d rawn u p b ased u pon a n o n—site, v isit a nd s tudy b ut i t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat w hen h e p repared i t t he a erial p hotos w ere n ot a vailable t o h im. T hese w ere a dded a t a l ater s tage

t o t he r eport

p ub lished a f ew y ears

a fter t he e nd o f

W orld W ar

I ( 6). B etween

1 934-1936 t he

o ut b y t he " Colt a nd A ll

t he B ritish S chool t old,

e xcavations a t

o f A rchaeology i n J erusalem,

L ack

o f

a t

S hivta

r ain

T he c essful.

1 934; t he s econd, f rom D ecember, 1 935

f orced t he e xcavators t o

c arried

h eaded b y t he

C olt.

f irst,

f rom

f rom N ovember, 1 934 t o t o J anuary, 1 936.

d iscontinue

t heir

a fter t he a forementioned t hree s easons,

h ad i ntended t o e xcavate

o pera—

t hough

t hey

t he e ntire c ity.

1 938 a ttempt t o r eturn t o e xcavate S hivta w as a lso u nsuc— T he e xcavators c oncentrated o n t he e xcavation a nd p artial

r estoration o f t he c ity's t hree c hurches, c ity

S hivta w ere

o f N ew Y ork U niversity

t here w ere t hree s easons o f e xcavations:

O ctober, 1 933 t o F ebruary, A pril, 1 935; a nd t he t hird,

t ions

f irst

e xpedition" u nder t he a uspices

s treets

a nd

t he p artial

t he c leaning o f p art

u ncovering o f

t he c entral

o f t he

w ater

r eser—

v oir . T he m ain e ffort w as

d irected t o

t he n orthern a rea n ear t he n orth

c hurch w here a l arge b lock o f b uildings s tretching s outhwest o f n orth c hurch w as c leaned ( the S hivta e xcavators n amed i t " insula a long w ith a nother b lock n ear t he n orth c hurch ( "insula I " t o t he S hivta e xcavators). T wo w ine—presses o utside t he a lso e xcavated. I t s eems t hat t he " stable h ouse" a nd h ouse", — w ere f or

t wo

l arge

a n umber o f

b een p ub lished I t p lan

d wellings s hort

r eviews,

i s p lausible

t o a ssume

T he

N ational

a ctivities

a s a t ourist s ite. l ate P rofessor M . t races,

s o

t hat

b een e xcavated,

1 4,

r eport o f

t hat

1 7).

r eservoir

T o d ate,

t he C olt

e xcept

E xpedition

h as

t hey i ntended t o p repare a n e xact o f o ur k nowledge,

I n

t he

s uch w as

n ever

8 ,

1 958-1960,

9 ,

1 0)

c leaning i n o rder

t oday o ne c annot

t ell

w hich

s treets a nd

o f

( 8). a nd

p reser—

t o p repare

T hese a ctivities w ere u nder t he s upervision o f A vi Y onah. T his i mportant a ctivity a lso l eft h ouses

i t t he n o h ad

O nly b y c omparing t he n ew

a re t he n ature a nd e xtent

o f

t hese a ctivi—

( 9).

l atter h alf o f i n

f ig.

P arks A uthority c arried o ut

c leaned o r r econstructed.

U niversity

A griculture

E xpedition ( s.

i n S hivta d uring

p hotos w ith t he o ld,

d iscernible

H ebrew

3 ,

I n t he A ntiquities D epartment A rchives t here a re a n umber

v ation

a erial

f ig.

n o

t o t he b est

p lans d rawn u p b y t he C olt

t ies

( s.

( 7).

o f t he c ity b ut,

d rawn.

a ccording c ity w ere t he " pool

l ocated w est o f S hivta's c entral

a lso p artially e xcavated

t he I I")

i n

t he

' 50's,

t he G eography I nstitute o f

J erusalem d id i ntensive

t he N egay.

W ithin t his

s tudied a nd a c ity p lan w as e ven d rawn u p

4

r esearch

f ramework, ( by P rof.

o n

S hivta a lso Y .

t he

A ncient

K edar).

w as T his

p lan, k ept i n t he M aps A rchives o f t he G eography I nstitute o f t he H ebrew U niversity, J erusalem , h as n ot b een p ublished t hus f ar ( 10). P rof. Y . K edar t ried t o e stimate t he c ity p opulation o f S hivta a nd c arried o ut a n e xperiment u nique u ntil n ow — t o c alculate t he c ity p opulation a ccording t o t he n umber o f r ooms a nd t he a gricultural l and a rea a vailable T he

t o t he c ity's r esidents

n orth c hurch w as

R enata R osenthal's d octoral J erusalem ( 12).

( 11).

s tudied o nce m ore a s d issertation a t

t he

s ubject

o f

M rs.

t he H ebrew U niversit

i n

I n 1 978, a p lan o f t he c ity o f S hivta w as p repared b y M r. B aruch B rimer, b ased o n a n a erial p hoto o f 1 :1000, a s p art o f a M aster's p rogramme a t t he H ebrew U niversity 's G eography I nstitute. T his p lan, m odified b y u s o n t he b asis o f o ur i nvestigations a t t he c ity, i s t he m ost p recise o f a ll t he S hivta c ity p lans e xisting t oday a nd h as s erved u s i n o ur r esearch o n t he c ity p lan o f S hivta b elow a nd f ig. 1 4).

5

( s.

c hapter

2

N OTES 1 .

E .H.

P almer,

Q St.,

( 1871),

T he d esert o f T ih a nd t he c ountry o f M oab, p p.

2 .

A . M usil, 1 5-33.

3 .

A .

J aussen,

R .

p p.

2 56-257,

p l.

4 .

5 .

A rabia P etraea

C .L.

W oolley,

( 3),

1 914-1915,

T h. 7 9,

3 1-32, p ls.

6 -7

( Edom),

S avignac,

H .

W ien,

V incent,

1 907,

S baita,

T .E. p p.

L awrence, 7 2-91,

a s

9 -22,

s tated,

p ls.

s treet

p p.

T he

t he f irst

a erial

f igs.

5 8-

p hotos

o f

f or t hey s how h ow c entury, b efore I n

S hivta,

d ifferent

w hen w e u sed

p hoto ( s. f ig. 3 ), w e w ent b ack a nd p hotos t o m ake s ure t hat a c ertain

a lso a ppeared i n t heir e ar lier o ne a nd w as n ot a o r " preservation" b y

t he

r esult

N ational

P arks

( s. b elow, n ote 9 ).

S hivta

g eneral t he

( 1905)

P EF A nnual

6 6-83,

a nd r econstruction a ctivities.

" reconstruction"

Authority 6 .

1 1

f igs.

X VI-XXII.

1 920,

o ur r esearch o n t he c ity p lan o f

t he e xcellent 1 :1000 a erial e xamined W iegand's a erial o f

3 6-44,

T he W ilderness o f Z in,

f igs.

B erlin-Leipzig,

p resent,

e xcavations

s tages o f

p p.

R B N .S.

S hivta. T heir i mportance f or u s i s v ery g reat t he c ity a ppeared a t t he b eginning o f t he 2 0th t he

P EF

3 3.

X .

W iegand, S inai, p ls. V I-VII.

P lates

2 0,

c ity

a nd

a erial

p lan a s

i t

i mprecise t hat

a ppears

i t

i n W iegand's

i s v ery d ifficult

p hotos w ere a t h is d isposal w hen h e d rew i t

w ould s eem t hat t he p lan w as d rawn u p a t t he s urvey

a nd,

r eport

s aw t he

a ppended t o

b ook

f or

w hatever r eason,

l ight

i n 1 920.

t he b ook.

P hot g :raphy

S ee:

A ntiquity,

O .G.

v ol.

2 8

p hotos

C rawford,

( 112),

s o t hat

u p.

I t

t ime o f t he o n-site

w as n ot u p-dated

T he a erial

i s

t o a ssume

1 954,

w hen

w ere

t he

s imply

A C entury o f A ir p p.

2 06-210, p ls.

I V-V. 7 .

C .

B ally,

brief

S 'baita,

r eview i s

E xpedition's

P EF Q St.,

t hus

e xcavations

r eviews a bout v arious C olt, a

C astles

p opular

1 935,

p p.

1 71-181,

p ls.

I -IV.

f ar t he o nly o ne p ublished a bout a t

f inds

i n Z in,

S hivta.

a t

A n umber p p.

8 4-91.

a rticle o n t he N egav

T his C olt

a dditional

S hivta h ave b een p ublished:

A rchaeology I ( 1948),

a nd v ery g eneral

o f

t he

H .D.

T his

c ities,

i s

w ith

S hivta m entioned o nly f leetingly. T his a rticle p resents a r ec onstruction o f t he n orth c hurch f acade, f ound n owhere e lse. G .M.Crowfoot, T he N abatean W are f rom S baita, P EF Q St., 1 936, p p. 1 4-27, p ls. I -IV. I n s pite o f t he e rroneous d ating h ere o f t he N abatean

c eramics,

c eramics

h as

N abatean s ettlement H .C. T hese

Y outie, f our

v icinity o f o bligation

t he

v ery f act

o f

t he

p ublication

o f

p rovided f urther t estimony o f t he e xistence o f

a

i n S hivta.

O straca o straca

t he

f rom S beitah, w ritten

A JA X L

i n G reek w ere

( 1936),

p p.

d iscovered

4 52-459. i n

t he

t he c entral r eservoir a t S hivta. T heir c ontent: t he o f t he c itizens t o p articipate a ctively i n t he t ask

o f c leaning t he p ublic p ool

( the c entral

r eservoir)

o f

t he c ity.

T hough t he o straca a re u ndated, o ne c an d etermine w ith a g reat d egree o f c ertainty t hat t hey b elong t o t he 6 th c entury C .E. I n

6

t hese o straca a s w ell, a s G armu o r K haldu.

t here a ppear c learly N abatean n ames s uch T he v ery p resence o f t hese o straca a re

i ndications o f t he i nternal o rganization, t he m ethod o f a dminist ration o f t he c ity a nd t he h igh d egree o f o rganization o f t he i nhabitants. T here i s n o d oubt t hat t he e xistence o f t he c ity i n d ifficult d esert c onditions, t he o ccupation w ith d esert a gric ulture w hich r equired c lose a ttention t o t he c alendar, a nd t he e xistence o f p ublic w orks l ike t he e rection o f d ams, t he b uildi ng o f t erraces a nd t he h ewing o f c isterns, a ll t hese r equired a n o rganization a nd c ommunal d iscipline w hich w ere s ui g eneris. 8 .

I n t he A ntiquities D epartment A rchives t here i s a w ealth o f i llustrative m aterial i ncluding t ens o f p hotographs t aken b y t he e xcavators o f S hivta. I n a ddition, t here a re 3 p lans: a . g eneral t opographical p lan o f S hivta o n t he s cale o f 1 :500 ( s. f ig. 8 ). T his p lan i ndicates t he l ayout o f t he c ity w ith p recision, t he e ntrances, t he n orth c hurch a nd t he b uildings n ear i t: " insula I " a nd a l ayout o f " insula I I". T his p lan w as s urely d rawn u p d uring t he f irst s eason t o s erve, s o i t w ould a ppear, a s a b asis f or d rawing a c omprehensive c ity p lan i n f uture s easons. b . a p lan o f t he n orth c hurch ( s. f ig. 1 0), o n a s cale o f 1 :75. T his p lan w as m odified b y D r. R enata R osenthal i n h er d octoral t hesis, s ee: R . R osenthal, T he N orth C hurch a nd t he M onastery,at S obota ( Shivta), J erusalem , 1 974 ( dissertation). c . a p lan o f " insula I ", o n a 1 :75 s cale ( s. f ig. 9 ). T his i s a b lock o f b uildings, o r a s w e h ave d esignated i t t ogether w ith t he c hurch, " the n orth c hurch e xtension" ( s. f ig. 1 5, 1 6, 1 7), w hich i s n ear t he c hurch a nd h as i ndustrial i nstallations, i ncluding a w ine-press. T he b uildings a re c onnected t o t he c hurch a nd c onstitute o ne c lear o rganizational u nit ( see b elow , c hapter 2 ,

n otes 2 4,

2 5).

I n C . B aly's b rief r eview ( see n ote 7 ) t here i s a d etailed p lan o f t he s outh c hurch . T his p lan i s n ot i n t he A ntiquities D epartment A rchives a nd h as b een p ublished n owhere e lse ( s. f ig. 1 3). T hat i s, a s s tated, a ll t he m aterial l eft b y S hivta e xcav ators. T here i s n o k nowing w hat b efell o ther p lans, i f i ndeed t hey w ere p repared. W here i s t he m aterial f rom t he e xcavations, t he d aily l ogs, t he n otes? A s ilence w hich I c annot u nderstand s urrounds t he s ubject o f t he S hivta m aterial a nd a ll m y a ttempts t o c larify w hether i n f act, s omewhere, a rtifacts o r e xcavation p lans o f t he C olt E xpedition e xist h ave c ome t o n ought. 9 .

I t urned t o t he N ational P arks A uthority, i n i ts t ime, w ith a r equest f or i nformation a bout t he s cope, n ature a nd a ctuality o f t heir p reservation a nd r econstruction a ctivities a t S hivta, b ut I r eceived n o r eply. I n a c onversation w ith P rof. A . N egav i t b ecame c lear t o m e t hat n o r ecord w as k ept a nd t hat t he w ork a t S hivta b etween 1 958-1960 w as n ot a rchaeological i n c haracter b ut w as l imited t o c learing a way d estroyed a reas a nd p reparing t he s ite f or t ourists - s etting u p p aths, t ing u p s igns, e tc.

1 0.

s trengthening w alls,

p ut-

I h ave b een i nformed t hat t his p lan i s i n t he H ebrew U nivers ity's G eography I nstitute A rchives, a dapted f rom a n a erial p hoto.

7

1 1.

Y .

K edar,

A ncient A griculture a t

( 1957), p p. 1 78-189. t o g rips w ith o ne o f r esearch, a ncient

i .e.

T he

I EJ

7

T his i s t hus f ar t he o nly a ttempt t o c ome t he c omplicated s ubjects o f a rchaeological

e stimates

t imes.

S hivta i n t he N egav,

o f

s cope

u rban o r

r ural

p opulations

o f o ur w ork d oes n ot

i nclude

i n t he

p opulation o f B yzantine S hivta. I t s eems t o UE t hat o ne c annot m ake p opulation e stimates s uch a s t hese w ithout k nowing t he a gricultural s aid,

i s

h interland o f

o utside

S hivta,

t he f ramework o f

a nd t his s ubject, t his s tudy.

T hus

a s w e h ave f ar,

m any

s tudies, r elatively s peaking, h ave b een w ritten o n t he a ncient a griculture o f S hivta a nd t he o ther N egav c ities. W e c ite h ere o nly t he i mportant o nes ( also s ee t he b ibliography): Y . K edar, A ncient A griculture i n t he N egav M ountains, M ossad B ialik, J erusalem, 1 967. P h. M eyerson, A ncient A gricultural T he T eleilat E l-Anab, P h.

M eyerson,

C entral

N egav,

L ondon,

1 962,

B ASOR 1 53

R emains

( 1959),

T he A ncient A gricultural f rom: p p.

H .D.

C olt

( ed.),

p p.

( Hebrew),

i n t he C entral

N egav:

1 9-31.

R egime o f N essana a nd t he E xcavations

a t N essana I ,

2 11-269.

M . E venari, L . S hanan, N . T admor, T he N egav - T he C hallenge o f t he D esert, H arvard U niversity P ress, 1 971. 1 2.

S ee n ote 8 .

1 3.

T he

a forementioned a erial

p hotograph i s p resented h ere

( s.fig.

3 ). T he S hivta c ity p lan d rawn u p o n t he b asis o f t his p hoto i s p ublished h ere w ith t he k ind p ermission o f M r. B aruch B rimer.

C HAPTER I I T HE T OWN

9

P LAN

I ntroduction S hivta i s l ocated 4 3 k ilometres s outh-west o f- B eer-Sheva • a t t he s outh-western e dge o f t he S hivta r idge, i n t he u pper p art o f t he N ahal ( Wadi) L aban b asin. T his n ahal a nd i ts s maller t ributaries c arved o ut t he ( 1).

s urface a rea o f t he r egion i n w hich t he c ity s ites

S hivta i s Z eitan.

N ahal

( s.

i llus

1 )

s et o n a s lope w hich f alls g ently s outhward t oward I t i s a bout 3 50 m etres a bove s ea l evel a nd m ost o f

h ills s tretching n orthward r ise t o ah eight o f a bout 4 50 m etres a bove s ea l evel. N ahal Z eitan c ircles t he c ity i n a g entle a rc a f ew h undred m etres f rom i ts s outhern b oundary a nd e mpties i nto N ahal L aban a bout a k ilometre w est o f t he c ity. R emains o f t erraces, d ams a nd o ther a gricultural s tructures i ndicate l arge a gricultural a reas. T hese w ere w orked i n t he p ast b y t he c ity p eople, t he a gricultural f arm p eople a nd t hose o f t he t ens o f s ettlements s cattered t he r egion ( s. f ig. 1 ) ( 2). A

b it

s hould b e

s aid a bout

t he h istory o f

S hivta.

t hroughout

T he

o ldest

e vidence o f t he e xistence o f a N abatean s ettlement o n t hat s ite i s f rom t he 1 st c entury B .C.E. ( 3). I ts a ncient n ame i s p reserved i n t he A rabic n ame o f t he p lace, A -Sbaita, k nown f rom t wo p apyri f rom N itzana ( Nessana) o f t he 6 th c entury C .E. ( 4). T hus f ar w e h ave n o e vidence w hatsoever o f t he s ettlement o f S hivta d uring t he f irst 4 00 y ears o f t he C ommon E r äa nd i t s eems t hat t he f irst B yzantine s ettlement c ame a t t he e nd o f t he 5 th c entury, r eaching i ts p eak i n t he 6 th a nd 7 th c enturies m any l and,

C .E.

T he t hree c hurches a nd t heir n earby

b uildings,

t he

a gricultural s tructures a nd t he e xtensive a gricultural h interi ndicate t hat t he i nhabitants o f B yzantine S hivta s ubsisted

m ainly o n a griculture

( 5).

S hivta i s n ot s ituated a t a ny i mportant c rossroad n or i s i t e ven n ear t he t rade r outes a s a re A vdat o r N itzana ( 6). T he a bsence o f a f ortress ( s. A vdat a nd N itzana) a nd w alls ( s. M amshit) s trengthens t he c oncept o f S hivta a s, a bove a ll, a n u rban s ettlement w hose r esidents e xisted o n a griculture a nd t he p rovision o f s ervices t o t he p opulation o f t he

s urrounding a rea's

f arms

( 7).

G eneral C ity C onfiguration

t he

T he g eneral d escription o f S hivta i s e lliptical a nd n ot u nified; c ity i s w ider i n i ts s outhern p art, n arrows i n t he m iddle, a nd

b roadens a b it

i n t he n orthern s ection ( s.

f ig.

3 ,

1 4,

g lance, t he c ity s eems t o b e o n a l evel p lain, b ut, s lopes f rom n orth t o s outh, s outh-east a nd s outh-west.

1 8).

A t

f irst

i n t ruth, i t T he d ifference

i n h eight b etween t he n orthern ( the N orth C hurch) a nd t he s outhern p arts o f t he c ity ( the c entral r eservoir) i s o nly a f ew m etres. T he s loping i s n ot u niform a nd c onsistent a s s ome t hought. T his p ercept ion l arge

l ed t o a t heory t hat S hivta's s treets s erved, i n e ssence, a s r un-off c hannels f or d raining w ater f rom t he e ntire c ity a rea

i nto

t he c entral

r eservoir

( the d ouble p ool)

( 8).

T he h eights o f

a

n umber o f p oints i n t he c ity w ere c hecked a nd w e w ere c onvinced t hat t his t heory i s u ntenable f or t he s imple r eason t hat t he s urface d oes n ot s lope c onsistently f rom n orth t o s outh. F or e kample, t he w estern s treet w hich l eads f rom E ntrance 2 ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7) t o t he c entral r eservoir i n f act s loped f or m ost o f i ts l ength w estward t o t he o ut -

1 1

s ide

o f

t he c ity a nd n ot

n orth—south r un—off n or's

t oward t he r eservoir.

s treet w hich c onnects

o f t his k ind o nly H ouse"

s outhward).

t he

r eservoir d id n ot

c ity

( s.

f ig.

T he

i n

i ts s outhern s ection

C ertainly t he a reas

d rain i nto

t he

m ain

i t

b ut

( from

" the

s outh a nd

a

G over—

s outheast

r ather t o t he o utside o f

o f t he

3 ).

a rea o f

S hivta

i s a bout

t han 8 1 d unams ( 20 a cres). l ength f rom n orth t o s outh, e ast s ure

L ikewise,

t he t hree c hurches c ould s erve a s

t o w est, t hose o f

8 0,762

s quare m etres,

t hat

i s,

l ess

I ts p erimeter, 1 ,597 m etres. I ts m aximum a bout 3 90 m etres; i ts m aximum w idth f rom

a bout 2 90 m etres. T hese d ata c ontradict i n g reat m ea— t he c asual i nvestigators w hich w ere c opied o ver t he l ast

d ecades w ithout S hivta

a nyone's b othering t o c heck ( 9).

w as

n ever w alled b ut

a s h as a lready b een

e mphasized

b y

t he e ar lier i nvestigators, i ts h ouses a nd c ourtyard w alls a re a rranged i n a c ontinuous l ine b roken o nly a t t he s treet e xits ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 4, 1 7)

( 10).

t o

b e

A n

f ound

i nteresting p arallel

i n

t he p lans o f

t o t his

s ystem o f

t he J ewish c ities o f

f ortification i s

t he G alilee a nd

G olan f rom t he e nd o f t he R oman a nd B yzantine p eriods. f or e xample, a t t he c ity p lan o f K horazin, w e w ill g eneral I n

l ayout r esembles t hat

K horazin,

c ontinuous

t oo,

e nough

o f S hivta

t he w alls o f l ine,

( comp.

f ig.

f erence b etween t he t wo c ities

1 4 a nd

1 8a)

t he h omes a nd t he c ourtyards

b roken o nly b y t he s treet l ies m ainly

i n i ts

e xits. i s

( 11).

f orm

T he

t errain:

s preads o ver a r agged m ountainous a rea w hereas S hivta l evel a rea.

t he

I f w e l ook, s ee t hat i ts a

d if—

K horazin

i n a

m ainly

T he C ity P lan S hivta p lanned d ivision p rior

i s

c ity

a n u nplanned u rban s ettlement. i s a c ity w hose n etwork o f

o f

a rea,

w hose

s cope a nd g eneral

t o i ts e stablishment,

t his d efinition s ee t he

l ayout

( 12).

I n

o f S hivta

I f

t he d efinition o f a

s treets,

w hose

f unctional

c haracter a re

d etermined

t hen S hivta f its n ot e ven o ne a spect

t he a erial

i n t he

p hoto b efore u s

( s.

o f

i llus 3 ),

l ast s tage o f i ts e xistence,

w e

b efore i t

w as a bandoned, a pparently i n t he 8 th o r 9 th c entury C .E., a nd i n t he n ature o f t hings i t w ill b e d ifficult f or u s t o r econstruct t he p ro— c ess o f

t he c ity 's g rowth a nd d evelopment w ithout

r ently, t he e arly s ettlement t he d ouble p ool ( s. f ig. 3 ,

e xcavations.

A ppa—

o f S hivta e xtended e ast a nd s outheast o f 1 4, 1 7). A l ook a t t he a erial p hoto o f

t he c ity s hows m ost c learly t hat t he d ensity o f b uilding a nd o f d es— t ruction w as b y f ar g reater h ere t han i n t he n orthern s ectors o f t he c ity. T he

S outh C hurch w as b uilt

I ts p lan i s c learly a dapted a t t heir d isposal ( s. f ig. c hurch

w as

e nough

s ite,

s pace, a nd

b uilt n ear

s tretched e ast

a rrangements

o f

c onditions o f t he s ite

( s.

T he

f ew a rtifacts o f

c entury s ettlement w ere s outh

o f

t he p ool.

s ettlement.

o n a n

e levated

B ecause o f

t he s mall

i s r ather u nusual:

t here

t he e ntrance w ere a dapted f ig.

1 3)

i n t he s outhern p art I t

i s

1 2

i s n o

t o

t he

a trium s pecial

( 13).

S hivta w hich c an a ttest

f ound

t he d ouble p ool.

e xisting

o f t he d ouble p ool,

t he e astern e dge o f

t he p lan o f t he c hurch

t he

i n a n a lready

t o t he l imited a rea w hich t he b uilders h ad 3 , 1 3, 1 4, 1 7). T he a rea o n w hich t he

l ogical

t o

i ts

o f t he

t o a ssume

t hat

I st

a nd 2 nd

c ity,

i .e.

t he

S outh

C hurch, s ite

t he

o f

c entred. w ell l ater e .g. l ocal

o ldest

N abatean

o f t he t hree,

w as e rected o n t he a ncient

S hivta w here t he e arly

T he p henomenon o f t his s ort

N abatean

c ultic

s ettlement

a lso

o f c ultic-worship c ontinuity i s

k nown t o u s a t m any c ultic s ites b oth i n t he c lassical w orld a nd p eriods. I n t he N egav i tself, t his p henomenon i s r ecognized : a t A vdat, w here t he N orth C hurch o n t he A cropolis . replaced t he T emple o f Z eus. T he l atter, i n i ts t ime, r eplaced t he N abatean

t emple o f D ushara. W e h ave a lready m entioned t hat t he o nly N abatean d edication i nscription f rom S hivta w as d iscovered i n t he S outh C hurch w all ( 15). I n t his c onnection i t i s w orth m entioning t hat t he c onq uering C hurch.

M uslims b uilt

t heir f irst m osque p recisely n ext

T he a bove s tregthens o ur c laim t hat m ent a t S hivta s tretched e ast, r eservoir ( the d ouble p ool).

t he a ncient

t o t he

f ocus o f

S outh

s ettle-

s outh a nd s outhwest o f t he c entral

c ity

T he a ncient S hivta s ettlement a pparently w as l ike t hat o f a ncient N abatean M amshit: s cattered c lusters o f b uildings, w ith n o a ttempt t o f orm a n o rderly c ity i nfrastructure a nd w ithout d efined s treets ( s. f ig. 1 9, 2 0). T he o pen s paces b etween t he c lusters o f s tructures w ere f illed i n a t S hivta, a s a pparently a lso i n M amshit, g radua lly, i n t he l ater s tages o f t he c ity 's e xistence. F rom n orthward. q uite

i ts e ar ly S outhward,

l imited,

N aha l

s outhern c ore, S hivta p rimarily e xpanded t he l and a vailable f or f uture b uilding w as

Z eitan,

c ircling t he c ity i n a n e asy a rc,

c onsti-

t uted a n atural b oundary t o t he c ity 's e xpansion i n t hat d irection. T o t he n orth, t here w ere u nlimited l and p ossibilities f or t he p eople o f S hivta ( s. W e s outhern, d ivision,

f ig.

3 ).

h ave d ivided B yzantine S hivta i nto c entral a nd n orthern ( s. f ig. 1 7). i n o ur o pinion,

t hree m ain s ectors: T his t opographical

a lso r eflects t he s tages o f

S hivta's u rban

g rowth . T he c ity s pread f rom t he e arly s outhern c ore w hich a lso t he m ain p art o f t he s outhern s ector.

w as

W e h ave s ubdivided t he " southern s ector", w hich a lso i n t he B yzantine p eriod w as t he m ost d ensely s ettled a rea, i nto f our m ain q uarters q uarter,

( s. f ig. 1 7): t he s outheast

t he e ar ly e astern q uarter, q uarter a nd t he s outhwest

t he e arly w estern q uarter. T hese

q uarters a re d ivided i nto s econdary u nits b y t wisting g eneral d irection i s n orth-south . T he q uarters i n s ector" f an o ut i n a s emi-circle f rom e ast t o w est a nd f ocal p oint o f t he " southern s ector": t he d ouble p ool C hurch.

t here

s treets w hose t he " southern e ncompass t he a nd t he S outh

A longside t hese q uarters o n t he s outheast, s outh a nd s outhwest, a re t hree l ong, n arrow s trips w ith g roups o f b uildings w hich

s urround t he e ntire s outhern p art o f t he c ity ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 4). T hese t hree s tripes o f b uilding w ere a pparently a dded a t a l ater s tage i n t he l ife o f t he c ity, s pecifically i n t he s outhern s ector, i n o rder n ot t o e ncroach u pon t he a gricultural a reas w hich s urrounded t he c ity a t

t hat p eriod

( s.

f ig.

3 ).

L ikewise,

t hese b uildings,

c lose t o-

g ether, f ormed o ne c ontinuum w hich l ooked l ike a w all a nd, i n a ctual ity, l imited t he n umber o f e ntrances t o t he c ity ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7). I t i s

d ifficult

t o t heorize,

h owever,

t hat t his s ecurity f unction,

1 3

a s

i t

w ere, w as t he r eason f or t his c onfiguration o f b uildings i n s outhern S hivta. I t i s m ore p lausible t o p osit t hat w hat w e h ad h ere w as a n a ttempt t o a dd t o t he r esidential a rea w ithout i mpinging u pon t he a gricultural o nes w hich f ormed a t ight r ing a round t he c ity ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7). T he

" central

s ector" c onstitutes t he s econd a nd a pparently m ain

s tage i n t he d evelopment o f S hivta. T his s ector s tretches i n a h oriz ontal b and f rom e ast t o w est a nd r eveals t wo m ain q uarters: t he e ast-central a nd t he w est-central. T hese t wo l arge q uarters a re s ubdivided i nto s maller s econdary u nits b y t hree g enera lly n orth-south s treets ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7, 1 8). I n t he " central s ector", w here t he s treet l ines a re c learer, i t i s v ery e vident t hat t his s ection a lso w as n ot p lanned a s a s ingle u nit n or w as i t d ependent u pon t he e ar lier s outhern c ore, b ut r ather d eveloped f rom i t s pontaneously, t aking a dvantage o f t he o pen a reas s tretching n orth o f t he d ouble p ool ( 16). T he o pen s quare-like a rea w hich s tretches w est o f t he d ouble p ool w ould s eem t o h ave b een c reated a t t his s tage i n S hivta's g rowth. W e h ave c alled t his " Pool S quare". I t u ndoubtedly w as t he v ery h eart o f S hivta u ntil t he c entre o f a ctivities w as s hifted f arther n orth a t a l ater s tage. A n umber o f l ovely b uildings h ave b een u ncovered a round t his s quare; a f ew o f t hem w ith s tores o pening o nto t he s quare ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 8, 2 6) ( 17). A g roup o f f our b uildings w hich f orm a s ort o f " island" ( "insula") a rouses s pecial a ttention . O f t he f our, w e r ecognize o nly o ne - t he " pool h ouse" - w ith w hich w e h ave d ealt a t l ength ( s. f ig. 2 4, 2 5, 2 6) ( 18). W est o f i t, t here i s a nother b uilding, a s y et n ot i nvestigated, a nd s outhwest o f t he " pool h ouse" i s " the s table" w hich w as a lready p artially s tudied b y t he C olt E xped ition e xcavators b ut w hich h as n ot y et b een p ublished ( 19). A nother b uilding, a lso u nexcavated, c ompletes t he i rregular s quare ( s. f ig . 3 ) ( 20).

many

O f c ourse, t his i s n ot a n H ellenistic o r R oman " insula" f orms w e k now w ell i n G raeco-Roman c ity p lanning - b ut

w hose i t i s

r easonable t o a ssume t hat t hese f our b uildings a re a s ort o f u nit a nd t hat t heir b uilders w ere c oncerned w ith c omfortable a ccess t o t hem f rom " Pool S quare" v ia s traight, w ide p aths: o ne w est a nd a nother e ast o f t he " insula"

( s.

f ig.

A nother " insula",

3 ,

1 7,

1 8)

( 21).

r ectangu larly s haped, c loses " Pool

S quare" t o

t he n orth . A t i ts w estern e nd i s " house V " w hich i s d escribed b y t he B ritish i nvestigators W oolley a nd L awrence ( s. f ig. 2 2) ( 22). E ast o f i t, t here a re t wo b uildings c lose b y. I n f ront o f u s i s a s tructure o f t hree d wellings s eparated f rom t he n earby b uildings o n t he e ast, n orth a nd w est, b y c ity s treets. A s m entioned, t he s outhern f acade o f t his s tructure T he a lso,

i t

f aces " Pool

S quare".

" northern s ector", s eems,

t he l ast

d eveloped i n t wo

s tage i n S hivta's

s ub-stages.

T he " Central

d evelopment, C hurch",

i n

t he s outhern p art o f t his s ector, l ike t he " South C hurch", i s c learly l ater t han t he b uildings a nd s treets a round i t. * Therefore, i t i s l acking a n a trium a nd o ne e nters d irectly i nto t he n ave f rom t he n arthex ( s. f ig. 3 , 1, 1 2). T he C entral C hurch w as e xcavated b y t he C olt E xpedition b ut a s y et u npublished ( 23). N ear C entral C hurch, o n

1 4

t he s outh, i s v ia a t ower

l arge c omplex s tructure. I t i s e ntered, f rom t he w hich i s t hree s tories h igh. T his w ould s eem t o

s outh, b e a

g overnmental-public b uilding, n ot a p rivate o ne ( s. f ig. 1 1, 1 2), a nd w e h ave t herefore d esignated i t a s t he " Governor's H ouse". I n f ront o f t he b uilding t here i s a n i rregular b road a rea, a s ort o f s mall t own s quare, a pparently f ormed b y t he o ff i n f our d irections ( s. f ig. 3 ,

j unction o f 1 6, 1 7).

f our s treets w hich w ind

T he n orthern p art o f t he " northern s ector" h as a u nique c haract er a nd a ppears t o b e a c omplete m unicipal c omplex b uilt u p b y t he g overnment a nd i s o utstanding f or i ts c entral p lanning . I n t his p art o f t he c ity, u ndoubtedly t he l atest, o ne c an m ake o ut a n umber o f l arge b locks o f b uildings, a ll a rranged r ound a l ovely c ity s quare, e ven t hough i rregu lar i n s hape. T he s quare i s p aved w ith s tone t iles ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7, 1 8). T he " North S quare" i s b ounded o n t he n orth b y t he N orth C hurch. T his i s t he m ost b eautifu l a nd e legant o f S hivta's c hurches ( s. f ig. 3 , 8 , 1 0) ( 24). I ts p lan i s c omplete a nd u nlike t he o ther t wo, t he S outh a nd C entral, i ts b uilders w ere u nrestricted b y t he s ite a nd d id n ot h ave t o t ake s treets o r e xisting b uildings i nto c onsideration ( s. f ig. 1 0). T he m onastery b uilding s eals o ff N orth S quare o n t he e ast. I t i s a l arge b uilding w ith t ens o f r ooms a rranged r ound a c entral c ourty ard. u nit

T he m onastery i s n ear t he C hurch a nd t hey c omprise o ne c losed ( s. f ig. 8 , 9 ). I t w as a pparently p ossible t o p ass f rom t he

m onastery t o t he c hurch a t t he s econd s torey l evel ( 25). T he m onast ery a lso s eems t o h ave u ndergone a n umber o f s tages w ith a dditions t o t he o riginal c ore m ade o n t he e ast a nd w est s ides w hich m ade a s ignif icant

c hange

i n i ts a ppearance

( s.

f ig.

8 ,

9 ,

1 8).

W est o f N orth S quare t here i s a nother g roup o f v ated b y t he C olt E xpedition b ut

s till

s tructures

u npublished.

e xca-

T here i s a lso n o

p lan w hatever f or t his g roup o f s tructures ( s. f ig. 3 , 8 , 1 8) ( 26). A s tudy o f t he a erial p hoto s hows t hat t hese a re a pparently p rivate d wellings a rranged i n a s ingle r ow : t hree b uildings i n t he e astern s ector a nd t wo a dded i n t he w estern. A s mall, r ectangular a rea s epara tes t he t wo s ectors. T he n orthern f rontages o f t hese t wo g roups o f b uildings c onstitute t he n orthern b oundary o f t he c ity, w hereas, o n t he s outh s ide, t he b uildings f ace a s traight, b road s treet w hich c onnects N orth S quare a nd t he n orthwest c orner o f t he c ity ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7). O n t he s outhwest, N orth S quare i s b ound b y a nother a s y et u nexc avated g roup o f b uildings; n or d oes a s tudy o f t he a erial p hotograph h elp t o

t oward

d etermine t he n ature o f

t his a rea

( s.

f ig.

3 ).

T here i s n o s ingle c onfiguration t o N orth S quare; i t n arrows t he s outh. I n t he c entre o f t he s outhern s ection t here i s a

s tructure w hose p urpose h as n ot b een c larified. I t i s p lausible t hat N orth S quare s erved a s a m arketplace f or b oth t he c ity r esidents a nd t hose f rom t he a gricultural a reas a nd i t m ay v ery w ell b e t hat i n t his b uilding s at t he t ax c ollectors o r m unicipal s u. p ervisors c oncerned w ith t he o rderly c onduct o f b usiness

1 5

( s.

f ig.

3 ,

1 7,

1 8).

S HIVTA 'S C ITY L ANDSCAPE A .

S quares a nd p iazzas I n

t he c ity p lan o f

S hivta,

o ne c an m ake o ut

o ne, i n t he s outh, P ool S quare, S quare ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 6, 1 7, 1 8). P ool S quare c entral r eservoir i s

b ounded

e astern

a nd t he o ther,

s quares: N orth

i s r ectangular i n s hape a nd e xtends w estward t o t he ( the d ouble p ool). O n t he s outh, n orth a nd w est, i t

b y d wellings a nd a s treet e ntering

l imit

t wo c ity

i n t he n orth,

i s

f rom

t he e dge o f t he d ouble p ool.

t he

w est.

s tones

f ronting P ool H ouse o pens o nto t he s quare a nd c loses i t o ff s outh. S outh C hurch, n ear t he e astern e dge o f t he d ouble p ool

o n t he a nd t he

s tatus

o f

S quare,

a c ombination r eligious,

T he P ool

S quare a rea w as

a n 8 00

c ommunal

N orth

S quare

s quare m etre a rea,

t he a erial

i ntersection.

S quare a nd c onnect

( 1000 s quare m etres r oughly) w as

A l ook a t

t he

a nd b usiness c entre.

a lso t he c ity's p rincipal

F ive s treets a nd o ne a lley g o f rom P ool p arts o f t he c ity ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 6, 1 7).

o rigina lly.

r ow

I ts

o f

a forementioned s tores g ive P ool

T he

w ith

a pparently

p hoto s trengthens t he

a ll

l arger

i dea t hat,

a t

a l ater d ate, t here w as a dded t o t he o riginal m onastery a g roup o f r ooms w hich i ntruded o n t he a rea o f t he s quare a nd o ccupied a bout 4 0% o f

i ts o riginal T he

s pace

o riginal

( s.

f ig.

3 ,

8 ,

1 7,

1 8).

p avement o f t he n orthern p art

o f t he

s quare

h as

b een p reserved. I t i s t he o nly p art o f t he c ity w hich h ad b een p aved, s eemingly o ut o f a d esire t o e mphasize t he u niqueness o f 1 ° -rth S quare a nd

g ive

d ence o f

i t

a d imension o f

o f a c oncern

S hivta

( s.

T here c entre o f p lanned

b elow,

w as

( s.

S treets

T his

i s

t he o nly

e vi—

r esidents

i n S hivta's C ity L andscape").

f ig.

3 ,

f ormed b y t he

g overnmental

a rchitectural B .

" Man

i s a nother p ublic a rea

t he c ity b ut

p ublic

g lory a nd b eauty.

f or t he a ppearance o f t heir c ity b y t he

i n f ront o f G overnor's H ouse

1 7,

1 8).

j unction o f

b uilding.

I t

i n t he

T his a rea c ertainly w as n ot f our s treets o pposite

i s u npaved a nd h as

n o

t he

p articular

d esign. a nd A lleys

S hivta's w idths. T his

s treets a re g enerally w inding, u npaved a nd o f v arying i s c haracteristic o f s treets i n u nplanned c ities a nd

s ettlements w here a s treet, a s a r ule, i s c reated a t t he l ast s tage o f t he b uildings e xisting i n t he a rea. H owever, i n a n umber o f p laces i n t he

c ity o ne c an p oint o ut w here t he c ourse o f

c onform

t o

t he b uildings b uilt

s treets a re s traight A s a nd

i t

p art

i s n o s ingle w idth

o f t he c ity s eem t o b e w ider t han

n orth—south. n or's

t here

r uns b etween 4 -5 m etres.

m ain t raffic a rtery H ouse

d ouble p ool

I t

i n S hivta

s tarts

P iazza

t he s treets w as

i n t hese

s et

i nstances

t o t he

a nd o f u niform w idth.

h as b een s tated,

g enerally

u pon t hem :

a t

i s

f or

s treets

t he

i n

N orth S quare, a nd

d escends

C hurch),

s till

T he

d irection i s

s outhward

c ontinuing

f rom t here,

1 6

s treets,

t he n orthern

i n t he o ld s outhern p art.

t he s treet w hose g eneral

( and C entral

a nd S outh C hurch;

T he

s outh

t o G over— t o

s outhward,

t he u ntil

i t l eaves t he c ity a t E ntrance 4 ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 6, 1 7). T his t raffic a rtery, w hich t raverses t he e ntire l ength o f t he c ity, i s n ot o ne c ontinuum b ut i s m ade u p o f m any s ections o f d iffering w idths. T here i s a n i nteresting o ffshoot o f t his m ain a rtery: f rom t he G overnor's H ouse f erent

i n a n orth-westerly d irection t here i s a s treet t otally d iff rom t hat j ust d escribed. I t i s s traight, o f u niform w idth,

a pparently p lanned ( at l east i n i ts s ection f rom C entral C hurch n orthw ard) b efore t he b uildings o n e ither s ide o f i t w ere e rected. T here i s a s imilar p henomenon i n t he s treet w hich r uns f rom N orth S quare t he n orthwest c orner o f t he c ity ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 6, 1 7). I n d ealing w ith a c ity s uch a s S hivta,

i t

i s d ifficult

t o

t o

s peak

o f c lear a xes l engthwise o f b readthwise. T his t erminology, a pprop riate f or t he p lanned n etworks o f s treets i n t he G reek o r R oman c ities, d oes n ot a pply t o t he c omplex o f w inding s treets a nd a lleys i n S hivta. O n e ntrances

t he w est s ide o f S hivta o ne c learly d iscerns t hree m ain t o t he c ity ( s. f ig. 1 7, e ntrances 1 , 2 , 3 ). F rom e very

e ntrance a s treet l eads i nto t he c ity. T he s treet f rom E ntrance 1 r uns s outh-easterly t hrough t he " west-central q uarter" a nd j oins t he s treet f rom E ntrance 2 d irectly e astward t o P ool S quare. T he s treet f rom E ntrance 3 a lso r uns e astward. I t c uts t hrough t he s outhwest q uarter a nd j oins t he m ain n orth-south s treet. O n t he s outh s ide o f S hivta t here a re t hree m ain e ntrances t o t he c ity ( s. f ig. 1 7, E ntrances 4 , 5 6 ). T he m ost i mportant o f t hem i s E ntrance 4 w hich i s t he s outhern t erminus o f S hivta's c entral t raffic a rtery, t he n orth-south o ne. T he s outhern s ection o f t his a rtery c onnects t he d ouble p ool a nd S outh C hurch w ith t he s outhern p art o f t he c ity a nd s eparates t he e arly w estern q uarter f rom t he s outhwest q uarter. E ntrance 5 i s o f s econdary i mportance a nd i s r eached v ia n arrow , w inding s treets w hich g o t hrough t he e arly w estern q uarter i n a n orths outh d irection. A q uarter,

l ook a t t he a erial p hoto s uggests t hat i n t he e arly w estern i n a ddition t o t he s treets i ndicated o n t he p lan ( s. f ig.

1 7), t here w ere m ore s treets a nd a lleys, b ut t he g reat d estruction i n t he e arly a rea p recludes a scertaining t he e xact c ourse o f t he s treets a nd t hey a re, t herefore, n ot i ndicated a t a ll. E ntrance 6 ,

o n t he s outheast s ide o f S hivta,

w esterly d irection t o s ections

o f t he c ity:

e arly w estern ( s.

( s.

f ig.

l eads

S outh C hurch a nd t he j unction o f t he e arly e astern, 3 ,

i n a n orth-

t he t hree e arly

t he s outheastern a nd

t he

1 7).

O n t he e ast s ide o f S hivta o ne c an d iscern 4 m ain c ity E ntrances f ig. 1 7, E ntrances 7 , 8 , 9 , 1 0). S hort s treets l ead f rom t hese

e ntrances, a ncient p art

e ast-west, o f t he c ity

t hrough t he n ewer q uarters, ( especially E ntrances

7 ,

t o t he i nner, m ost

8 ).

T he s treet r unning w est f rom E ntrance 9 i s t he l ine b etween t he c entral a nd n orthern s ectors, c onnects t wo m ajor l engthwise a rteries o f S hivta a nd a llows f or e asy a ccess t o C entral C hurch a nd, f rom t here,

t o t he o ther p arts o f t he c ity .

1 7

E ntrance 1 0, p art o f t he g eneral n orthern s ector c omplex, i .e. t he C hurch, m onastery a nd N orth S quare, p rimarily s erved t he m onastery a nd t he g roup o f n earby b uildings s outh o f i t ( s. f ig. 3 , 8 , 1 7). O n t he n orth s ide o f S hivta t here a re t wo a dditional E ntrances ( s. f ig. 1 7, E ntrances 1 1, 1 2). E ntrance 1 1 a pparently w as t he m ain c ity E ntrance f rom t he n orth a nd l ed d irectly t o N orth S quare. E ntrance 1 2's c haracter i s u nclear b ecause o f t he l arge a mount o f e arth p iled t here b y t he C old E xpedition w hen t hey e xcavated t he g roup o f b uildings w est o f N orth C hurch ( s. f ig. 8 ; a ccording t o t he C olt E xpedition i nsula I I). W e h ave d escribed a ll t he e ntrances t o t he c ity a nd i ndicated w hich s eem t o u s t o h ave b een t he c entral, m ore i mportant o nes. I t s hould

b e p ointed o ut,

h owever,

t hat S hivta d id n ot h ave a

c entral

e ntrance. I ts r esidents d id n ot s ee f it t o g ive a ny e ntrance a n a rchitectural e mphasis w hich w ould s et i t a part f rom t he o thers. B esides t he s quares, p iazzas a nd s treets, t here w ere a n umber o f a lleys w hich b ranched o ff t he s treets i nto t he c lusters o f b uildings. T hese a lleys s erved t he b uildings f ar f rom t he o pen a reas a nd g ave t heir r esidents a ccess t o t he s treets a nd s quares. T his, f or e xample, i s c learly i ndicated b y t he a lley o n t he e ast s ide o f P ool H ouse ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7) o r t he a dditional a lley i n t he n orthwest c orner o f S hivta ( s. f ig. 1 7). T heir n umber w as s urely m uch g reater i n t he e arly a reas o f t he c ity, i n t he q uarters s outh a nd s outheast o f S outh C hurch. C .

C ity C entres

T he t hree c hurches a nd t heir n earby b uildings w ere t he m ain f ocal p oints o f S hivta. S outh C hurch a long w ith t he d ouble p oo l a nd P ool S quare c omprise t he c entral f ocal p oint o f S hivta. H ere, i n t he d ensest a nd e arliest a rea, t he c ultic-religious, p ublic-administrative a nd b usiness f unctions s eem t o h ave b een c oncentrated. I t w as e asily r eached a nd e very s ection o f t he c ity c ould b e r eached f rom i t w ithin a f ew m inutes ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 7, 1 8). C entral C hurch, G overnor's H ouse a nd t he p iazza i n f ront o f i t c onstituted a nother f ocal p oint, t hough o n a s maller s cale. H ere, a pparently,

t he g overnmental

i n a ddition t o t he c ultic N orth

C hurch,

( Governor's H ouse)

( Central

f unctions w ere

l ocated

C hurch).

t he m onastery ( and

i ts

i ndustrial-agricultural

s tructures, a nd N orth S quare ( the m arket p lace, a pparently, a s w e h ave s uggested, s .p. 2 2), c omprised t he o nly p ublic a rea i n t he c ity w hich w as

g iven

a n

a rchitectural

d esign b y t he

c ivic

a uthorities

N orth S quare's p avement o f s tone t iles e mphasizes t he s pecial, S hivta t he u nique, c oncern f or t his p articular a rea. F rom

s tudying t he a erial

p hoto o f

t he c ity w e c annot

( 27). a nd i n

d etermine

w hether t here e xisted i n S hivta a c lear s eparation o f f unctions o n a c ity-wide b asis, i .e. w hether t here w as a s pecific a rea o r q uarter f or a d efined p urpose s uch a s a n i ndustrial o r c rafts z one, a s torage f acilities s ection, a n a rea f or r eligious f unctions, e tc.

t ional

I t a ppears d ivision.

t o u s t hat S hivta w as t otally l acking s uch a f uncO n t he c ontrary, e ach h ouse, e ach u nit, e ach b uild-

i ng a nd e ach q uarter w ere,

w e

t hink,

1 8

i ndependent,

s elf-sustaining,

s elf—contained n orthern p art

a nd

u nrelated t o a nything a round

o f t he c ity,

n ear N orth C hurch,

b uildings ( the m onastery a nd t he b uildings n ear h as a p ress a nd o ther a gricultural s tructures. u nder t he C hurch's

i nfluence,

f unctioned

a u nit,

l ished

a nd

c ity.

T wo p ublic p resses w ere

u nique

t hem .

d o w e

O nly

i n

t he

f ind a c luster o f

i t t o t he s outh) w hich I t i s p ossible t hat,

i n c haracter,

w as e stab—

w ithout c ontact w ith t he o ther p arts f ound n ear t he c ity:

o ne,

o f

t he

n orthwest,

a nd t he o ther, s outh—east ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 4). T hese p resses, i t s eems, s erved t he r est o f t he c ity 's r esidents ( 28). I t . c ould v ery w ell b e t hat t here a re m ore a gricultural a nd i ndustrial s tructures i n t he c ity w hich h ave n ot y et b een d iscovered. D .

P ublic I n

a nd P rivate B uildings

a ddition

t o

t he t hree c hurches a nd t heir n earby

o nly one o ther s tructure c an,

w ith s ome r eservation,

a p ublic b uilding — G overnor's H ouse c hurches w ere

p layed t he c entral

t he

s ource o f

T he c ity

f ig.

a pparently

t he c ity

T hey a re t he

i mpressive

1 1,

1 2).

C learly t he

l ife o f B yzantine S hivta i n

a nd

m atters

i n t he p ublic,

o f

a dministra—

( 29).

c hurches w ere a lso t he o nly

l andscape.

t he m ost

a lso,

l ife o f

t hree

( s.

i n t he

i nfluence a nd a uthority n ot o nly

r eligion a nd w orship b ut t ive a nd e conomic

r ole

b uildings,

b e c onsidered a s

l andmarks o n t he

l argest a nd t allest

i n t he c ity.

S hivta

b uildings a nd h ence

T hey a re a lso t he o nly o nes

a rchi—

t ecturally o utstanding i n t he S hivta l andscape. T he o ther b uildings s erved a s d wellings, f or t he m ost p art c lustered c losely t ogether i n i rregu lar l ow,

f ashion

a nd q uite s imilar i n e xternal

w ith t heir s olid w alls

f acing t he

t he c ity l andscape a g rey,

d ull

a re

f oremost

p rominent,

d ouble—sloped, d esert

f irst a nd r oofs.

a rchitecture,

d rew t he g aze o f

t he

T hese

e ntrance. o n

f oreign t o

o n t he S hivta

l arge,

" general"

h orizon

w hich

f oot—traveller.

Dwellings

i n S hivta w as

i nwardly o riented,

u sually w ere o f o ne o r

o f

T he c hurches o f

t hree

a nd,

f rom

s ize a nd s pecial

t heir e mbellishment. a re p ractica lly n ot

c hurches a re n otable

t wo s toreys,

f lat—roofed —

s toreys.

S hivta w ere p rominent

n ot o nly b ecause o f t heir t he w ealth o f

t otally

f oci

t he c hurches t heir

o ne c ould n ot g uess i ts s ize, l ayout o r i nterior a ppear— t he o utside o ne s aw o nly a s olid w all a nd a s mall

r are o ccasions,

o ther h and,

r oofs,

B uilt

t hey c ombined t o g ive

T n c ontrast,

b y t heir h eight a nd

w ere s pecial

T he p rivate d welling t he o utside, a nce. F rom

s treet,

a ppearance.

a ppearance.

T he

o n

t he

s hape,

l andscape o f b ut

r esidences o f

d ecorated a t

f or t he a bundance o f

a ll.

S hivta

a lso b ecause o f S hivta,

o n t he

I n c ontrast,

t heir e xternal

t he

a rchitectural

o rnamentation a nd e ven m ore s o i nterna lly. T he q uality o f t he c hurch b uilding f ar s urpasses t hat o f t he d wellings. T he d oorposts, l intels a nd i n

c olumns

o f t he c hurches h as b as—relief d ecoration,

s trong h ues.

W ithin t he c hurches,

w ere m arble—tile c overed.

P art

t he

e ven c oloured

f loors a nd e ven t he

o f t he c hurch

f urnishings

w alls

( the a ltar,

t he s creens a nd t he p arts o f t he a mbo), w as a lso m ade o f m arble. T he c olumns t hemselves, w hich c arried t he n etwork o f b eams a nd s upported t he r oof n eed

( we

d o n ot

f ind

f or t hem t here),

t he e ye.

T he c hurch

i n t he m onochromatic

t hese a t

a ll

i n t he d wellings,

w ere a p leasant a rchitectural r oofs, S hivta

m ade o f w ooden b eams, l andscape,

1 9

t here w as

n o

c omplex w hich d rew w ere a lso p rominent

b ecause t hey w ere

s o u nusual.

E .

M an i n

t he C ity L andscape o f S hivta

S omeone a pproaching S hivta t oday w ould h ave t rouble m aking i t o ut. T his i s n ot o nly b ecause i t d oes n ot s tand o ut i n t he l andscape b ut b ecause i t b lends i nto t he y ellowish—brown c olour o f i ts s urround— i ngs. r uins

S hivta i s b uilt o f l ocal s tone a nd t herefore, t he c olour o f i ts i s o ne w ith t he s urrounding h ills. H ow d id t he c ity a ppear i n

t he B yzantine p eriod? A l ook a t t he a erial p hotograph s hows t hat t he c ity w as t ightly r inged w ith a gricultural p lots. I t i s r easonable t o a ssume

t hat

a t

l east

a t c ertain

t imes,

t hese p lots p rovided a reas o f

v arious g reens w hich m ade t he c ity s tand o ut a gainst b ackground. I t w ould s eem t hat t here w as a gricultural s ome

i ts l andscape g rowing d one i n

o f t he h ome c ourtyards — w hich a lso u ndoubtedly c ontributed s ome

g reenery t o

t he y ellow—brown

l andscape

( 30).

O ne w ho c omes

i nto

t he

c ity t oday a pparently s ees t he s ame s ight w hich m et s omeone e ntering S hivta i n t he 8 th c entury C .E., f or e xample. B etween t he g roups o f b uildings, w inding s treets t wist t heir w ay, r iding a nd f alling i n t urn,

b road o r n arrower a ccording t o

s tone

w alls p lastered a y ellowish—brown

t he p lace;

o n b oth

s ides,

( they s urely d id n ot

h igh

p laster

i n w hite b ecause t he r esultant g lare w ould h ave b een u nbearable).

A nd

e ven

t he

i f

t he

g ardens w e m entioned h ad b een

p edestrian s urely w ould n ot h ave

i n

s een t hem.

t he

c ourtyards,

W alking a long t he s treet,

one s aw n othing b ut w alls c losing i n o n h im f rom b oth s ides. T here i s n othing i n t he s treet t o c atch o ne's e ye — t he f ield o f v ision i s l imited. a re

S traight

s carce

i n

s treets w hich a llow

w all

o f

a nother s treet!

w hich

t o g uide o neself. T he

f or s eeing s ome t ens o f m etres

t he c ity a nd e ven t hese u sually d ead e nd

w inding

T here

s treet

i s n o d istant p oint

b uilding

i n

t he

( church)

b lank

f ocus

a nd t he e nclosing w alls p reclude

s eeing e ven t he r oofs o f t he c hurches. p edestrian c ome u pon a p ublic s quare, p ub lic

t o

o n

o ne

b y

f rom

I n o nly a f ew p laces d oes t he t hen h is e ye c an r est o n a

a nd a b roader f ield o f v ision o pens

u p

t o

h im. T he c ity l andscape o f S hivta w as m onochromatic a nd b oring. I t w as c haracterized b y a t otal a bsence o f " street f urniture", a m inimum o f

u rban c entres,

a l imited f ield o f v ision a nd

m ain t horoughfares. n o

e ffect m ade

t ions o f t hose

i t,

m onumental

i n S hivta

e mployed

e mphases.

o r a t

l east

C ompletely a bsent

b y t he c ity b uilders

S yria a nd A rabia, a ppearance:

i nconvenient,

f or t he p aving o f N orth S quare,

t o g ive t he c ity,

a ny m onumental

m eans

P alestine,

E xcept

t o a chieve

f or e xample,

i n

R oman

w inding

t here w as

c ertain

s ec—

i n S hivta a re a nd

B yzantine

f or t he c ity a n e ye—catching

c olonnades,

t riumphal

a rches a nd

n ymphaea. I t l acking

w ould s eem t hat t he r esidents o f S hivta, a s a p opulation a c ity c ulture a nd t radition, w ere u naware o f t heir c ity 's

u gliness

a nd

f elt

n o n eed t o c hange

t he c ity

l andscape

i n w hich

t hey

l ived. F inally, b uilt, s ituated

o r

w e m ust a sk o urselves w hether S hivta,

i n i ts c ity i n

t he d esert,

i n a r egion p rone

l andscape,

i n

t he w ay

o ffers a nything u nique a s

w ith s pecial

i t w as a

c ity

a nd u nique c limatic c onditions,

t o p eriodic s and a nd d ust

s torms a nd e specially h igh

s olar r adiation. B efore t rying t o a nswer t his q uestion, w e s hould s ay p rivate r esidence i n S hivta s eems w ell s uited t o t he d esert

2 0

t hat a c ondi-

t ions.

O ne

f eels t he c oncern

f or t he w ater

s upply:

a s ophisticated

s ystem o f r un—off c hannels d rains t he w ater f rom t he e ntire a rea o f t he h ouse a nd i ts d ifferent l evels i nto a c istern b eneath t he c ourt— y ard.

T he

t hick w alls o f t he h ouse a ssure a c omfortable t emperature

i n a ll o f t he r ooms. T he l ack o f w indows o n t he g round f loor a nd t heir p aucity o n t he u pper s toreys t end t o s how t hat t he c ity r esi— d ents

w ere w ell

m ade

a ware o f t he s trong r adiation a nd t he d ust

d o w ith t he

l ight w hich c ame

i nto t he r ooms

f rom

s torms a nd

t he

c ourtyard

( 31). W ith w ould

a ll

m ake

t his,

i t

w e h ave n ot

u nique a mong o ther

d iscerned a nything l ike c ities

o f

i n

t hat

S hivta

w hich

s ame p eriod

i n

R oman a nd B yzantine P alestine a nd t he n eighbouring r egions. A s a n u nplanned s ettlement w hich g rew a nd d eveloped s pontaneously w ithout a g uiding h and, i t h as n o p ublic w orks. W ith t he e xception d ouble p ool ( which a pparently a ntedates t he B yzantine c ity) i t g overnmental o f S hivta a s

and

p roject w hich w ould i n a ny w ay a ttest " a d esert c ity" ( 32).

t o t he

o f t he h as n o

u niqueness

T o t he c ontrary, i n i ts c onfiguration, i n t he w ay i t w as b uilt i n t he c haracteristics o f S hivta, t here a re i nstructive p arallels

t o t he J ewish c ities o f t he G alilee a nd t he G olan o f t hat p eriod, i n s pite o f i ts g eographic a nd c limatic d ifference. T hus, f or e xample, t he s imilarity b etween S hivta a nd K horazin, r eligious

d ifferences,

i s o utstanding

f or a ll

( compare

o f

f ig.

N either c ity w as e stablished a s a p lanned s ettlement; o wn

s low p ace w ith n o g uiding h and o f c oncern

w ere

n ever s urrounded b y a w all b ut

h ouses and c ourtyards

i n b oth,

f or

t he e thnic a nd

1 4,

1 8a)

( 33).

e ach g rew a t

i ts

d esign.

i ts T hey

t he o uter w alls o f

t he

f ormed a c ontinuum w hich a fforded s ome d egree o f

d efense. N either i n S hivta n or K horazin i s t here a n o rderly n etwork o f s treets b ut r ather a c omplex o f w inding s treets o f d ifferent w idths r unning

t he

c onnect l arge

t he

l ength a nd b readth o f d ifferent

t he c ity.

s ections a nd q uarters.

n umber o f e ntrances w ith n o

a ttempt

T he

s treets a nd

B oth h ave a

a lleys

r elatively

t o g ive a ny o ne e ntrance

a

s pecific a rchitectural c haracter w hich w ould d esignate t his a s t he c ity 's m ain e ntrance. B oth S hivta a nd K horazin l ack s quares o r p ublic p iazzas w orthy o f t he n ame. t he

T hese e xist,

h owever,

o nly

p ublic b uildings w hich a re f ew i n b oth c ities.

i n r elation t o

I n S hivta

t hese

a re c hurches w hereas i n K horazin — a s ynagogue, a h ouse o f s tudy ( ?) a nd a n umber o f o ther b uildings n ear t he s ynagogue. I n b oth c ities, o nly t he b uildings f or w orship ( synagogues a nd c hurches) w ere g iven a ny o f t he a ccoutrements o f m onumental a rchitecture. I n b oth c ities, t he s ource o f r eligious a uthority i s a lso t he s ource o f a uthority a nd i nspiration S hivta

a nd

K horazin, c ity

i n p ublic—ciVic m atters; t he

S anhedrin

d etermined t he

i n m unicipal—civil

t hat

i s

t o

s ay,

t he c hurches

( "the C ommittee o f t he S even

l ifestyle a nd s upervised w hat w as

E lders") d one

i n i n

i n t he

m atters.

N either c ity h as a ny " street

d ecor" o r m onuments

a wareness w hatsoever o f a esthetic c oncerns

f or t heir

t o

i ndicate a ny

l andscapes

w hich

t hese t wo c ities a nd

t heir

a re m onochromatic a nd d ull. I t

w ould

a ppear

t hat

a ppearance s tem f irst a nd a nd, va lues

h ence, i n c ity

t he d esign o f

f oremost

f rom a l ack o f

f rom a l ack o f a n u rban

s ensitivity t o a nd a wareness o f

l andscaping.

2 1

t radition, a esthetic

T he

i nhabitants

w ho w orked t he s oil,

o f b oth K horazin a nd S hivta a like w ere w ithout

a ny t radition o f c ity

l iving,

p eople

w ho

f ound

t hemselves, f or c ertain r easons, t ogether i n a c ity-like s ettlement a nd t hough, o ver t he g enerations, t he s ettlement g rew a nd d eveloped i nto a r eal c ity, n o c ivic-governmental-urban c onsciousness w as e ver c reated o r c oncretized a s i n t he " polis" o r R oman c ities. . S HIVTA A ND T HE O THER N EGEV C ITIES W e d o n ot h ere N egav c ities.

i ntend t o p resent

W ith t oday 's

a c omparative

s uch a d aring a ttempt w ould b e p remature. t ion

r esults

s tudy o f

s tate o f k nowledge a bout

o f A vdat a nd M amshit

P ublication o f

( Kurnub),

t he

s ix

t he N egev c ities, t he e xcava-

t he c ontinued e xcavation

o f H alutza, R ehovot a nd S hivta, w ill, i n d ue c ourse, m ake p ossible t he p reparation o f a s tudy o n t he c haracter a nd n ature o f t hese c ities. W e

c an

n ow p osit w ith a lmost c omplete c ertainty t hat

N egev c ities w ere f ounded b y t he N abateans w ho, b efore t he C ommon E ra i n t he f irst c enturies o f t he

d ominant

e stablished

f actor i n

i n t he N egav r egion

t he s ame p eriod:

a lready a t t he b eginning o f t he t ant c aravan h alts a long t he N egev,

w hereas

s tage.

I n

s ition

h istory o f

a ll

o f t hem

w ere

i t

w ere,

s eems,

i mport he

R ehovot a nd M amshit w ere e stablished a t a l ater

t o a griculture. o f

N ot

H alutza a nd N itzana

2 nd c entury B .C.E.,

t he 2 nd c entury C .E.

h istory

s ix

l engthy c aravan r outes w hich c rossed

t he N abateans m ade t he d ramatic t ran-

f rom i nternational c ommerce,

c enturies, t he

S hivta,

( 34).

A vdat,

a ll

i n t he l ast c enturies t he C ommon E ra, w ere

T here

w hich h ad o ccupied t hem f or m any i s n o

a ny o ther n ation a nd

t he a ncient w orld.

I t

s uch p arallel

t ransition

i s a u nique p henomenon

s eems

t o u s

t hat

t he

i n

i n

t he

f oundation a nd

b asis f or t he g rowth o f s ettlements i n t he N egev i n t he l ater p eriods m ust b e s een i n t his t ransition. I n t he v ery e ssence o f t his S tate d ecision, s o f ateful i n i ts n ature, t he f oundations w ere l aid a nd t he t ools

p repared f or t he e xistence o f

s pecial

k ind

a s ophisticated a griculture o f

i n a r egion w hich d emands e ffort,

p assing g overnmental

c ontrol.

E ven i f

t he N abatean p opulation i n t he

N egev i n t he 2 nd a nd 3 rd c enturies C .E. h ood ( like c ommerce a nd h orse-breeding), t heir s hift

h ad o ther s ources o f l ivelit hey w ere c ompelled t o b ase

e xistence, f irst a nd f oremost, u pon a griculture. i n t heir w ay o f l ife a nd i ts b ecoming b ased u pon

n ecessitated

s izeable

c oncentration

o f

p opulation

l abourers w ere n eeded f or t he d igging o f c anals,

t he

T he s udden a gricu lture

( multitudes

o f

t he b uilding o f d ams

a nd t he t erracing). A ll t hese p repared t he g round m ent o f p ermanent s ettlements. I n

f or t he e stablish-

l iterature d ealing w ith t he c ities o f

t he

N egev,

t he

c oncept o f " Nabatean, R oman a nd B yzantine c ities i n t he N egev" s till p revalent. H owever, t his c oncept i s n ot e xact. T hus, t here n o

b asis

b uilt

f or t he a ssumption t hat

p ermanent

s ettlements b ut

T oday o nly M amshit N abatean s ettlement

t he N abateans

b uilt

c ities.

t heir p recise c haracter

i s

f rom t he s tage a t w hich t he N abateans w ent o ver

t ure.

s tudy o f

f ig.

1 9,

p lan a nd p eriod) a

2 0)

t he a erial

i ndicates t hat

t he a erial

p hoto,

T hey

n ot c lear.

i ndependent

t o a gricul-

p hoto o f M amshit a nd t he c ity p lan t he N abatean s ettlement

o f c ourse,

i ncluded a n umber o f

c losed,

i s i s

c an s erve a s a n e xample o f a 2 nd c entury C .E. b y w hich t o r econstruct t he f orm o f a N abatean

s ettlement A

a

k nowledge a nd a n e ncom-

s how u s M amshit

l arge d wellings.

u nit w ithout

2 2

( s.

a t

M amshit

( the

i n

t he B yzantine

E ach h ouse c onstituted

c onnection t o

t he

o ther

u nits.

T here w ere n o s treets b etween t he h ouses a nd n o c ity p attern w as c reated. T he N abateans d id n ot f ound c ities i n t he N egev o r a nywhere e lse. T his n omadic p eople w hich o ver t he c ourse o f h undreds o f y ears h ad d ealt i n c aravan c ommerce w as, t o b e s ure, c ompelled, a t a l ater s tage

o f

i ts

h istory,

a griculture

- a nd,

s ettlements

w hich

c ities.

I t

i s

t o u ndergo a m ighty r evolotion - t o g o o ver

i ndeed, i t

i t

b uilt

l ogical

r ose

t o t his

s pecial

h ad n othing w hatsoever

t o a ssume

t hat

R omans

d id n ot p ut

t heir

i n

t he N abatean

o ther s ites: A vdat, H alutza, S hivta o r N itzana s ettlement a s w e k now i t a t M amshit. T he

t ask .

l ooked

i mprint o n

- b ut

t o t he

c ommon

w ith

s ettlements

a t

l ike a N abatean

t he N egev

d uring

t he

c ourse o f t heir r ule i n t his r egion ( from a bout 1 06 C .E. o n). T races o f b uilding a ctivity w hich c an b e a ttributed t o t he R omans ( the 2 nd a nd

3 rd

c enturies C .E.)

T he N abateans

i n t he N egev s ettlements a re

r emained t he m ain c omponent o f

t he f irst c enturies

o f t he C ommon E ra e ven

c entury

t he s tart o f

C .E.,

a t

m ost

i f,

p erhaps,

t he B yzantine p eriod,

t here w as

I srael

t eans

i dentifying t raits;

t heir c haracteristic

i n

d uring t he 4 th

b eginning o f a n e migration f rom c entral l ost m any o f

l imited.

t he N egev 's p opulation

s outhward.

T he

t he N aba-

t he p rice,

i t s eems, w hich t hey p aid f or t he t ransition t o a griculture a nd t heir l oss o f p olitical i ndependence. T heir n ational N abatean l anguage w as e xchanged, G reek, G reek. c ede

d uring

t he c ourse o f t he 3 rd a nd 4 th c enturies C .E.,

h is p lace t o C hristian w orship.

t uries

C .E.

c ities"

i n t he N egev.

c ities? c annot

f or

b ut t he N abatean n ames c ontinue t o a ppear e ven w hen w ritten i n D ushara o f A vdat b ecomes Z eus i n o rder, a t a l ater s tage, t o

I t y et

t here

E ven i n t he 3 rd a nd

4 th

i s a s y et n o e vidence o f t he e xistence o f W hen,

i s c lear t hat

r econstruct,

t hen,

d id t he N egev s ettlements

t his h appened g radually,

b ut

c en" Roman

t urn

i nto

i n s tages w hich w e

t he b eginnings o f w hich c an b e

s een,

a s

s tated, a t t he s tart o f t he B yzantine p eriod. T he c entral B yzantine p ower w as i nterested i n t he s trengthening, d evelopment a nd g rowth o f t he N egev s ettlements.

T he

s urplus p opulation f rom t he c entre o f

c ountry s trengthened t he N egev s ettlements. b y

t he N abateans

a nd

T he

d uring t he 2 nd a nd 3 rd c enturies C .E.

s trengthened;

t he

q uiet o f m ilitary

t he

i nfrastructure b uilt

s ecurity,

w as a n

e xpanded

e nlightened

p olicy o f t axation, t he l eadership o f t he c hurches w hich c entralized a ll c ommunal-governmental m atters, a ll t hese p rovided t he s uitable b asis f or c onditions,

t he g rowth o f t he N egev s ettlements c ould d evelop, g row a nd c rystallize

w hich, u nder t hese i nto r eal c ities. A s

s tated, i t i s l ogical t o a ssume t hat t his p rocess t ook p lace p rimarily i n t he 5 th-6th c enturies, b ut i ts b uds a re c ertainly m uch e arlier ( with t he e stablishment o f t he f irst c hurches i n t he 4 th c entury C .E.) - a nd

i t

c ontinued i n

T he

t he

N egev c ities,

a griculture w ith t ens o f

7 th c entury C .E. a s s tated, t housands o f

a s w ell.

e xisted o n s ophisticated d unams

o f

f ields

d esert

a nd p lantations

a round t hem. F or t he f irst t ime i n t he h istory o f t he N egev a r are b alance h as b een c reated b etween N ature a nd M an, b etween k nowledge, e fficient a uthority. g rowth o f f arms i tself

a nd t he e nlightened p olicy o f

c entral

s cattered a mong t he s ix N egev c ities) w hich

o n s ophisticated d esert t o

t he

A ll o f t hese c oming t ogether g uaranteed t he e xistence a nd a n u rban p opulation ( as w ell a s r ural p opulation i n t he

a nd v illagers

c onditions m ents

a dministration

a griculture.

w hich b rought a bout c ities w ere

i ndependently,

i n

i dentical

i ts o wn w ay,

D espite t he

t he c hangeover o f f or t hem a ll,

b ased

t hat

t he

t he N abatean s ettle-

e ach g rew i nto a

a nd e ach c ity w as

2 3

f act

d esigned i n a

c ity d if-

f erent

f orm :

Avdat

a nd N itzana w ere s et u p a t

t he

f oot

o f

f orts;

B yzantine Avdat s pread o n t he s lopes o f r ocky m ountain r ange a t t he f oot o f A cropolis ( s. f ig. 2 1), h ewn o ut o f s tone a nd b uilt r ow u pon r ow i n a n e xceptional a nd s pecial l ar c onfiguration,

a t t he

f orm .

N itzana s pread

f oot o f t he A cropolis.

i n a n i rregu-

M amshit,

b uilt a bove

t he d eep v alley o f a w adi, w as s urrounded b y a w all - t he .only o ne o f t he N egev c ities t o b e f ortified i n t his w ay. H alutza, t he l argest a nd m ost

i mportant

o f t he B yzantine N egev c ities,

b ased h er d efense o n

a c hain o f g uard a nd w atch t owers w hich e ncircled t he c ity. T he s cope a nd e xact n ature o f H alutza a nd R ehovot w e d o n ot y et k now b ut t he e xcavations m atters w ill I n

a t t hese s ites a re c ontinuing a nd i t s oon b e c larified.

s pite

o f

t he f act

t hat a t

t he p resent

i s h oped t hat

s tage

w e

t hese

k now

v ery

l ittle a bout t he N egev c ities a nd t he r esearch i s i n f ull s wing, w e c an a lready f irmly a scertain t hat t he N egev c ities a re n ot u niform i n f orm o r c haracter n or d o t hey h ave m uch a nd

e xternal

f orm.

i n c ommon a s

t o

r esult o f i ndependent d evelopment a nd i ts r oots a re b ackground o f e ach c ity a nd i ts g eographical l ocation. " suffer" S hivta: l ack

w ith t he

t he

t he e arly t he c ities

a wareness o n t he p art o f t he r esidents a bout t he c ity

l and-

" street d ecor" a nd m onuments w hich m ight h ave g iven t he s omething o f t he s ame s parkle a nd b eauty o f c ities i n

N egev o ther

a reas o f R oman a nd B yzantine P alestine, l ess,

i n A ll

f rom t he s ame c haracteristics w hich w e i ndicated a bout l ack o f c ity p lan ; a b oring, m onochromatic c ity l andscape; a

o f

s cape, c ities

c onfiguration

T he d imensions a nd d esign o f e ach c ity a re

S yria a nd A rabia.

N everthe-

t he N egev c ities o f t he B yzantine p eriod p resent t he r esearcher a f irst-class c hallenge: d ay-to-day

s tructure,

o peration

t heir p opulation,

t he r ange o f

o f t hese c ities,

s ubjects c onnected t heir o rder

a nd

w ith s ocial

t heir c haracteristic a rt a nd a rchitecture

- a ll t hese s till r emain f or i n-depth s tudy.

2 4

N OTES 1 .

2 .

Y . K edar, ( 1957), p p. Y .

K edar,

M ossad

A ncient A griculture a t 1 78-189.

" Ancient A griculture

B ialik,

J erusalem,

R emains

o f

A ccording

t o K edar,

A ncient

S hivta a rea c over

S hivta

i n t he N egev M ountains"

1 967.

S ee

A griculture t he

i n t he N e av,

i n

c h. t he

7

( Hebrew),

8 ( The N egev

I EJ

S cattered M ountains).

s cattered r emains o f a griculture

i n t he

5 ,608 d unams.

L . S hanan, N . T admor, " Ancient A griculture i n t he C entral N egev" ( Hebrew) f rom : A . S hmueli, Y . G radus ( editors), " The L and o f t he N egev — M an a nd D esert" p p. 2 70-296. a bove,

c hapter

( Hebrew),

M inistry o f D efense,

3 .

S ee

1 ( Research H istory),

4 .

C .J. K raemer, E xcavations a t N essana 3 , P rinceton, 1 958.

1 979,

n ote 3 . ( Non—Literary P apyri),

S hivta i s m entioned i n t wo p apyri: a . I n p apyrus 7 5, p p. 2 12-213, b .

I n p apyrus

7 9,

p p.

2 27-233.

S hivta i s b asically w ithout a d oubt a S emitic ( Nabatean) n ame. T he a ncient n ame o f t he p lace i s r etained i n t he A rabic n ame o f t he s ite, A —Sbaita. T he m eaning o f t he c ity's n ame i s u nclear and m ay b e " small p edia

o f

t ribe";

s ee A .

A rchaeological

N egev,

E xcavations

" Shivta", i n

i n " Encyclo—

I srael"

( Hebrew),

J erusalem, 1 970, v ol. 2 , p . 2 53. I t i s w orth n oting t hat t he m odern l iterature h as a n umber o f t ransliterations o f S hivta, e .g.

( Musil)

( Abel) t he

S bejta,

S baita,

s pelling

S emitic, S hivta

( Baly)

( Wiegand) " Shivta",

S 'baita,

i n

o pinion t he

o ur

c losest

i s

a lso m entioned i n e arly C hristian s ources, N ote

s ur S baita,

A

n umber o f G reek i nscriptions

J POS

i n t he c ity i tself,

1 5

s ee:

( 1935),

p p.

K irk,

J POS

S ee a bove,

n otes

A lso s ee:

M .

1 7

1 -2;

f rom t he B yzantine A .

A lt,

6 .

t he F arms),

Z .

M eshel,

p p.

A ccording

p p.

L .

p p.

t o Y .

c ultural c ity".

c it.,

K edar, S ee Y .

' Araba,

w ere

4 3-44.

B erlin

A lso s ee: t he S outh—'

1 ( Research H istory), N .

T admor,

T he N egev,

n ote

1 1.

H arvard

S ee c hapter 7 ( Ancient R unoff A gricul— 9 5-119, f ig.

a nd c hapter

p p.

( Reconstructions

o f

t he P ast

( Hebrew),

i n

2 97-307.

S hivta K edar,

a s table a t

1 2

1 10.

i s

" a c ivilian, o p.

c alls S hivta a " civilian—agricultural" 5 23. T he e xistence o f

p eriod

2 07-217.

S hanan,

1 79-190,

o p.

:

D ie G riechischen

1 44 p p.

H istory o f N egev R oads

S hmueli—Gradus, 7 .

1 43,

s ee

t he G reek I nscriptions o f

s ee C hapter

1 971.

t he N egev),

o f

i n

( 1937),

E venari,

U niversity P ress, i n

1 42,

E ra P roblems

e rn D esert,

t ure

t he

7 -11.

I nschriften d er P alaestine T ertia W estlich d er u nd L eipzig, 1 921. S ee i bid., i nscriptions

5 .

t o

H ebrew s ound.

A bel,

G .E.

E sbeita,

I n o ur w ork w e h ave p referred

M .

f ound

( Woolley—Lawrence)

S beita.

S hivta

2 5

c it.,

r eligious,

1 13.

s ettlement.

( see b elow,

A .

a gri—

N egev a lso

o p.

c it.,

c hapter I V,

p .

n ote

8 )

a s

a t M amshit,

r aises

t he p ossibility t hat

c ertain s tage

i n S hivta's h istory

a nd

h orses i n a ddition t o

s elling

s tables s erved t heir o riginal p eriod

( the

p eriod

t heir

a t

S hivta

i st

a nd 2 nd c enturies C .E.)

a nd

i t w ould s eemthat

t he r esidents o f

S ee

A .

N egev,

8 .

o p.

2 25-256,

i llua.

u sed

t ered

t he c ity s treets

a bout

s treets t ions

w ere i n

t he

B yzantine l ivelihood

a griculture.

i n t he L ater N abatean f ig. 7 -8. ( Hebrew)

i n

" Water w as t he m ost t hat t he c ity p lan-

t he m any c isterns

i t m ay b e

t herefore

1 978 n egate t he a bove

s cat-

t hat

d etermined b y t his n eed." O ur o n s ite

t he s ummer o f

S hmueli-

2 7-29.

t o c hannel

t he e ntire a rea;

i n

i ndeed

A . N egev, " Shivta", o p. c it., p . 5 24 . d ifficult p roblem a nd i t s eems, t herefore, n ers

M amshit

l ater N abatean

t he m ain s ource o f '

B yzantine S hivta w as

p p.

t he

i nvestiga-

p ossibility.

O n

t he o ther h and, i t i s r easonable t o p osit t hat a t l east c entral s ection o f t he c ity w as d rained i nto t he d ouble p ool a n etwork o f c lay p ipes and o pen s tone c hannels. S ee: E venari, 1 03,

L .

S hanan,

w here

t he

N .

T admor,

o p.

c it.,

p p.

1 68-171,

a uthors p artially r econstruct

p ipes a nd c hannels w hich w ere d rained o ff 9 .

t he

f igs.

s cale o f 1 :500. a

S ee a bove,

t he b y M . 1 02-

n etwork

o f

i nto t he d ouble p ool.

T hese m easurements a re o ur e stimates b ased u pon t hese m ade D .F. B rown, o f t he C olt E xpedition, f or t he m ap o f S hivta o n 8 .

a

s ame m ay h ave h appened

T he F lowering o f M amshit

c it.,

a t

i n b reeding T he

i n t he a nd

T he

P eriod ( Hebrew), " Mada" X VI, p p. 1 42-148, A . H egev, T he N abateans i n t he N egev G radus,

l east

a griculture.

p urpose o nly

t roughs w ere s ealed u p.

f or

a t

i ts p eople e ngaged

C hapter 1 ( Research H istory),

W e c ompared t he m ap w ith t he e xact a erial

p hoto o f

b y t he n ote

S hivta o f

1 :1000 r atior a nd c onfirmed t he p recision o f t he C olt E dpedi-

t ion m ap. W oolley

a nd L awrence e stimate t he s ize o f S hivta a s

l ong, 3 50 m etres w ide a nd m ost o f t he r esearchers Y . K edar, w ho d id a d etailed s urvey o f S hivta i n w rites t hat t he c ity's a rea w as 1 ,

p .

1 88.

A .

1 15 d unams.

N egev f ollows h im,

S ee o p.

s ee o p.

c it.,

4 50

m etres

f ollow t hem. t he m id-50's, p .

c it., 5 24.

n ote E lse-

w here, Y . K edar c orrects h imself a nd e stimates t he a rea o f S hivta a t 8 0 d unams. S urprisingly, i n t hat v ery p lace, h e s ets t he

l ength o f t he c ity f rom n orth t o s outh a t

w idth

a t

4 50 m etres,

d irection, 1 0.

s ee Y .

S ee

f or e xample

T .E.

L awrence,

p .

a n e rror o f m ore t han

K edar,

o p.

c it.,

n ote

2 ,

p .

5 50 m etres a nd i ts 1 50 m etres i n

t he W oolley-Lawrence d escription: T he W ilderness o f Z in,

e ach

1 11.

P EF A nnual

C .I. W oolley, ( 3),

1 914-1915,

7 3.

T he B ritish i nvestigators i ndicate 9 g ates a t w hich t he s treets l eave t he c ity. F rom a s tudy o f t he a erial p hoto o f S hivta ( s. f ig. 3 ) i t i s p ossible t o s how t he e xistence o f t hree m ore

1 1.

c ity e ntrances

( cp.

h ad

e ntrances.

Z .

1 2,

n ot

Y eivin,

9 ,

f ig.

A S urvey o f t he

G olan i n t he P eriod o f S ources, f ig.

3 ,

( Hebrew),

6 ,

1 7),

s o t hat w e b elieve S hivta

S ettlements

i n t he G alilee a nd t he

t he M ishna a nd T almud i n

J erusalem,

1 3.

2 6

1 971

t he L ight o f

( dissertation),

p p.

t he

4 4-52,

1 2.

1 3.

A . S egal, T he H ippodamic,and t he P lanned C ity, p p. 1 0, 1 7. T he

S outh

C hurch w as e xcavated b y t he C olt

n ot p ublished.

T he p lan o f

S 'baita,

P EF Q St.,

1 935,

F rom o ur

s urvey o f

t he c hurch a rea,

t he

b uilders o f

S hivta n ote 7 ,

1 71-181, p ls. i t

t he n ew c hurch w ere

i s

M oslems c hurch 8 th

E xpedition b ut e xcavations. a lso s ee C .

w as S ee B aly,

I -IV. c lear,

a s

s tated,

f orced t o d estroy

b uildings i n o rder t o b uild i t. I n o rder t o t he d ouble p ool, t he c hurch b uilders n arrow s treet T his s treet

1 978,

t he S outh C hurch o nly w as p ublished

b y B aly i n h is s hort r eview o f t he a bove, C hapter 1 ( Research H istory), p p.

B eer S heva,

t hat

e xisting

t o a ssure f ree a ccess t ook c are t o p ace a

a round t he c hurch o n t he e ast a nd n ortheast s ides. j oined P ool S quare u ntil i t w as b locked b y t he

w ho b uilt t he m osque i n t he n orthwest c orner o f w here t hat s treet j oined P ool S quare ( apparently i n

c entury C .E.).

E rection o f

t he t he

t he m osque a nd t he s ealing o ff

o f t hat c onnecting s treet u ndoubtedly u pset t he p edestrian t raff ic i n t his a rea o f t he c ity ( s. f ig. 1 4, 1 7). 1 4 .

S ee a bove, ( Pool

1 5.

A .

N egev,

8 4.

1 6.

C hapter

1 ( Research H istory),

H ouse), n ote

N abatean A vdat

A lso

s ee

( Hebrew),

i bid., n ote 3 .

P rof.

A .

( Hebrew)

A dvat

H istory),

n otes

p .

" Mada",

V III,

1 80.

A lso s ee a bove,

N egev s uggests a d ifferent p rocess

2 ,

i n

e rn

k ernel

i s

not

a ccept

c ity

o f S hivta

and

t he

Negev, t ural

p rocess w e t wo

S ee

i n:

G .

P ress,

G olany

N egev, ( ed.),

L ondon,

t ook

A rabia,

p lace

b eginning

s uggested

N abatean

1 06

s ettlement.

s ections:

H ousing p p.

t hat

I n

h is

f rom t he a ncient t o

i n A rid L ands,

m eet

o ne

i n A ncient

T he a rchitec-

( The T own P lan o f S obota,

s uggested b y P rof.

C .E.,

t he s outh-

B osra

c apital

A .

N egev f or

o f

P rovincia

w hich w as b uilt n ear a n a ncient

T he p lan o f B osra c learly i ndicates

t he a ncient

8 2-

b ut h e d oes

h erein.

d eveloped

3 -32

i n t he R oman i n

p p.

t he d evelopment t hat

H ouse a nd C ity P lanning

1 980,

p p. 2 1-22). A d evelopment s imilar t o S hivta

h ave

p arts o f t he c ity

A .

1 964,

i ndeed t he a ncient k ernel,

t he N orth C hurch a rea w as p lanned f ar

a nother.

C hapter 3

C hapter 1 ( Research

H e t oo e mphasizes t he f act

t he

7 ;

i n t he L ate R oman a nd B yzantine P eriods

o f S hivta a s a c ity.

o pinion,

3 ,

1 6.

e astern,

u nplanned o ne,

w ith

t wo

i ts c omplex

o f w inding s treets a nd t he n ew c ity, e stablished w est o f t he a ncient s ettlement w ith i ts s eparate, w ell p lanned s treet s yst em . S ee: A . S egal, R oman c ities i n t he P rovince o f A rabia, J ournal

o f

M ay

1 981,

1 7.

S ee

b elow ,

1 8.

S ee b elow,

1 9.

C .

2 0.

S ee b elow,

B aly,

t he S ociety o f A rchitectural p p.

H istorians,

1 09-121.

C hapter 3 ( Pool c hapter I V

S ibaita,

n ote 4 .

( Stable H ouse),

P EF Q St.,

c hapter I V

H ouse),

1 935,

p .

( Stable H ouse),

2 7

p p.

8 7-123.

1 78. f ig.

1 ,

p .

1 01.

v ol.

X L,

2

2 1.

F . C astagnoli, P ress, 1 971. W e

f ind

r ange. w as

O rthogonal

T own-Planning

a s imilar " insula" T his,

i n A .

e stablished i n

i n

t he s outhern p art

N egev 's o pinion, a s

( s.

t he a erial

i t h as n ot y et p p. 1 80-181.

b een p ublished.

2 2.

C .L.

T .E.

o p.

2 3.

C .

B aly,

o p.

c it.,

p .

2 4 .

C .

B aly,

o p.

c it.,

p p.

R .

R osenthal,

L awrence,

c it.,

f ig.

2 5.

( 1976),

W oolley

p .

7 6,

f ig.

A vdat w hich

w as.

T he

s hows, w as N egev,

o p.

1 1.

1 73. 1 73-176.

T he N orth C hurch a nd t he M onastery a t

p p.

a nd

2 1),

S ee A .

( Shivtah), J erusalem, 1 974 ( dissertation). i dem, B auform u nd K ult i n d en N egev Kirchen, 1 08

t he

p hoto c learly

e xcavated b ut c it. n ote 1 5, W oolley,

o f

M .I.T.

i s w here R oman A vdat,

t he 3 rd c entury C .E.

a forementioned b uilding,

i n A ntiquity,

D as

S obota

H eilige

L and

7 -30.

L awrence

h ave a lready c alled t he

l arge

b uilding

s outheast o f N orth C hurch " monastery", a nd m ost o f t he r eviewers a nd r esearchers . h ave f ollowed t hem. D r. R . R osenthal ( s. n ote 2 4),

p roved

t here

w as

t hat e ven

i t

i s

i ndeed a m onastery a nd p oints o ut

a s pecial

p assage b y w hich

s econd f loor o f t he m onastery d iffers

w ith

D r.

t o

i nto t he c hurch.

R osenthal.

S ee:

A .

D r.

O vadiah,

S hivta p repared t he p lans o f b oth t he T hese p lans h ave n ot

O n t he o utline m ap o f H istory) n ote 8 , t he C olt

2 7.

W e

t he c ity - s ee a bove,

E xpedition a s

n ot o nly 9 ),

o riginal

m onas-

A ntiquities 8 , 9 , 1 0).

b ut a nd

C hapter I ( Research

" insula

I I" f act

( s.

f ig.

8 ).

t hat N orth S quare w as

l arger b ut m ore r egular i n d esign.

a ddition t o w est f ig.

1 68.

t his g roup o f b uildings h as b een d esignated b y

h ave a lready d welt o n t he

n ally

p .

b een p ublished

t hey a re i n t he A rchives o f t he D epartment o f h ave b een p resented h ere i n t his w ork ( s. f ig.

t he

O vadiah

C orpus o f t he

T he

a nd t he c hurch.

1 970,

A .

i n t he H oly L and,

e xcavators o f

B onn,

t hat

f rom

B yzantine C hurches t ery

2 6.

m ove

f ace o f t he m onastery,

w ithout

a d oubt

d id s erious

A

o rigib uilding

t riangularly s haped ( s. d amage

t o

t he

r egu lar,

f orm o f N orth S quare .

2 8.

A .

N egev ,

o p.

c it.,

n ote 4 ,

2 9.

T he s ocial o rder i n t he c ities o f t he N egev i n t he B yzantine p eriod, t he r ole o f t hg c hurches i n t he c ity's a dministration a s t he

s ource o f g overnmental

a re

s ubjects w orthy o f

l ittle h as b een d one a mount o f c an

t hus

( not o nly r eligio-cultic)

f ar

i n t his

t he p lace o f

b e g leaned f rom t he p apyri S ee

a lso b elow ,

t he c hurches

1 67 .

2 8

b ut

S ee

t he e conoi n N itzana,

C .J.

P apyri),

v ery

A c ertain

i n

e specially

o f N itzana.

( Non-Literary c hapter V I

a uthority,

r esearch,

i mportant a rea.

l ife o f t he N egev c ities,

E xcavations a t N essana 3 . 1 958.

5 26.

i ntensive h istorial

i nformation o n

m ic a nd s ocial

p .

K raemer, P rinceton,

( Governor's H ouse),

p p.

1 63-

3 0.

O n

t he

i mportance o f p arks a nd g ardens

i n t he p lanning

o f

t he

R oman c ity, s ee: P . G rimal, L es J ardins R omains a l a f in d e l a R epublique e t a ux p remiers s iecles d u l er E mpire, P aris, 1 940. W .F. J ashemski, T he G ardens o f P ompeii, N ew Y ork, 1 979, p p. 1 2 4,

1 55-166.

B oth t he G reeks a nd o f

v egetation i n

a h ealth p oint

o f v iew.

M .P.

V itruvius,

1 931,

V ,

9 ,

t he R omans w ere w ell

t he u rban

l andscape

S ee,

a ware o f

f or e xample,

D e A rchtectura,

t he

i mportance

f rom a n a esthetic a nd

e ven

V itruvius:

L oeb C lassical

L ibrary,

L ondon,

5 .

( "The o pen s paces w hich a re b etween t he c olonnades u nder t he o pen s ky,

a re

p lots;

i n t he o pen a re v ery h ealthy,

f irst

b ecause w alks f or t he e yes,

t ions,

b ecause f rom t he g reen p lanta-

t he a ir b eing . s ubtle a nd

i nto t he b ody a s s o

t o b e a rranged w ith g reen

b y

r emoving

l eaves

i t m oves,

r arefied,

f lows

c lears t he v ision,

t he t hick h umour

f rom

t he g lance d efined a nd t he

a nd

t he e yes,

i mage

c learly

m arked"). 3 1. 3 2.

S ee

b elow t he d iscussion a bout

I t

i s

w hich

o f i nterest w ere

p eriods, w ith T hus, T rajan

P ool

H ouse

( Chapter 3 ).

t o p oint o ut t hat t he p lanned

e stablished

t hroughout

t he

E mpire

R oman i n

c ities

d ifferent

w ere a ll r emarkably u niform i n p lan a nd c onfiguration,

n o c onsideration o f t heir g eographic o r c limatic l ocation. f or e xample, T hamugadi i n N orth A frica ( established b y i n

1 00 C .E.),

l ished i n t he d ays t oday S t. A lbans,

A ugusta P raetoria

i n n orthern I taly

( estab-

o f C aesar A ugustus), 2 5 B .C.E. o r V erulamium, i n E ngland ( established i n 4 3 C .E.), a ll w ere

p lanned i n t he s ame f orm, a ccording t o a c ommon p lan, v ery m uch a like, w ith n o r elationship t o t he g eography o r c limate o f t he c ountry,

s ee:

J .B.

W ard-Perkins,

C ities o f A ncient G reece a nd

I taly: P lanning i n C lassical A ntiquity, N ew Y ork, 1 974; F . C astagnoli, O rthogonal T own-Planning i n A ntiquity, M .I.T. P ress,

1 971.

3 3.

Z .

Y eivin,

n ote

1 1,

i bid.

3 4.

N abatean h istory, i n i ts v arious g uises, h as b een s ummarized b y P rof. A . N egev i n t wo e xtensive w orks. S ee: A . N egev , T he N abateans a nd t he P rovincia A rabia, i n: A ufstieg u nd N iedergang d er R omischen W elt,

1 1,

i dem,

A ntike W elt

D ie N abataer,

8 ,

B er lin,

1 977,

p p.

5 20-686.

( 1976 Sondernummer).

2 9

C HAPTER I II H OUSE A T T HE

3 1

P OOL

I ntroduction T he " Pool-House" a cquired i ts n ame b ecause o f i ts p roximity t he c entral S hivta r eservoir, t he d ouble p ool w est o f S outh C hurch

t o ( s.

f ig. 3 , 1 4). T his h ouse h as b een w ell-preserved a nd w as c hosen t heref ore t o b e t he f irst s ubject f or s tudying t he d omestic a rchitecture a t S hivta ( 1). T here a re f ew d escriptions o f t he p rivate b uilding i n S hivta. O nly a f ew d wellings h ave b een s ketched a nd e ven t hese o nly g enerally. T hey w ere p ublished b y i nvestigators a t t he b eginning o f t he ? nth c entury ( 2). S ince t hen, n o r esearch h as b een f orthcoming o n t he s ubject o f p rivate b uilding o f t he B yzantine p eriod i n t he N egev c ities i n g eneral a nd i n S hivta i n p articular ( s. f ig. 2 2, 2 3) ( 3). A D escription o f

t he H ouse

T he " Pool H ouse" i s o ne o f t he l arge h ouses i n t he c ity, c omb ining r esidential a nd c ommercial f unctions. T he n orthern f ront o f t he h ouse w hich s erved c ommercial p urposes f aces t he c ity s quare w hich e xtends w estward t o t he r eservoir ( s. f ig. 3 , 1 4, 1 6, 1 7) ( 4). T he e astern s ide, t he e ntrance s ide, f aces t he a lley w hich c onnects t he s outh o f t he c ity a nd " Pool S quare" ( s. f ig. 1 7). T he s outhern a nd w estern f rontage a re t he c ommon w alls o f t he n eighbouring h ouses w hich h ave n ot a s y et b een e xcavated ( s. f ig. 3 ). T he h ouse, a s s tated, h as b een w ell p reserved a nd, i n s ome p laces r eaches a h eight o f a lmost 4 m etres

( 5).

T he " Pool H ouse" o ccupies a n a rea o f a bout 4 00 s quare m etres w ith a n i nterior, s emi-rectangular c ourtyard a t i ts c entre. T he c ourtyard i s a bout 7 5 s quare m etres ( s. f ig. 2 4). T he h ouse h as 1 1 r ooms o f w hich 7 o pen d irectly i nto t he c ourtyard. T hey r ange i n s ize f rom 2 5 t o 1 5 s quare m etres. T he m ain e ntrance t o t he h ouse w as

f rom t he e ast.

T he w alls o n

b oth s ides o f t he e ntrance a re e specia lly t hick ( 1.30 m etres a s a gainst 0 .60 m etres e lsewhere). T he e ntrance l eads i nto a n a ntec hamber ( s. f ig. 2 4, 2 5, r oom n o. 1 07) w hich l ed t hrough a w ellp reserved a rched e ntrance i nto t he c ourtyard ( s; f ig. 3 3, 3 4) ( 6). T he c ourtyard s eparated t he h ouse i nto t wo w ings f rom a f unctional s tandpoint. I n t he a bsence o f a rchaeological f inds, i t i s d ifficult t o d etermine t he s pecific f unctions o f e ach r oom i n t he b uilding b ut i t a ppears t hat t he r ooms i n t he n orth w ing s erved c ommercial n eeds. I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he r ooms s erved a s s tores ( s. f ig. 2 4, r ooms n o. 1 02-104). T his c an b e c oncluded f irst o f a ll f rom t he e ntrances o pening o nto " Pool S quare" l ying n orth o f t he h ouse. T he s tores a lso h ad a r ear d oor w hich l ed t o t he c entre c ourtyard, e xcept f or t he n orthwest s tore w hich w as c ut o ff f rom t he o ther p arts o f t he h ouse a nd o pened o nly t o

f rom

( s.

i n t he o ther p arts o f t he h ouse.

h ouse

c hanges

f ig.

2 4,

r oom

n o.

1 02).

( s.

I t s eems t hat t he p lan

a nd t he r oom a rrangement d id n ot u ndergo

o ver t he y ears e xcept

w hich w as a dded l ater, t wo

S quare"

T he r ooms o f t he n orth w ing ( no. 1 02-106), a s c an b e g athered t he a rchways, h ave c eilings o f u niform h eight, l ower t han t he

c eilings t he

" Pool

f ig.

2 4,

f or s ome i ncidental o nes:

d ividing t he n ortheast r oom o f

r ooms n o.

a ny

1 05-106;

3 3

s .

a lso f ig.

a p artition

t he h ouse 3 5).

o f

s ubstantial i nto

T he s mall

w indow n ear t he e xit w ay A l so,

t he " seam"

i n r oom n o.

1 05 s eems

i n t he c entre o f t he n orth

t o b e a l ater a ddition.

f acade,

b etween

r ooms n o.

1 03 a nd 1 04, i ndicates a n a ddition o r t hat t he n orthern r oom a rrangem ent w as b uilt i n s tages. T his

s et

b e a n a ddition a nd

o f

r ooms

t o t he

( rooms n o.

h omogeneous u nit.

t ion o f

1 02-106)

" basic h ouse",

T he d ifference

t he n orthern s et o f

r ooms,

o f t he h ouse, i s b latant. w ays: a . t he n orthern s et

s eems

p lanned a s

i n g reat m easure

a n o rganic,

i n t he n ature o f

v ery

i nferior t o

t o

c ontained

t he c onstruc-

t hat

o f

t he

r est

T his d ifference c an b e e xplained i n o f r ooms i s i n f act a l ater a ddition;

t wo b .

b ecause o f t he c ommercial p urpose o f t hese r ooms, t hey w ere b uilt w ith l ess c oncern a nd " attached" a s i t w ere, t o t he n orth f acade o f t he h ouse. T he

S ystem a nd N ature

o f t he C onstruction

T he " Pool H ouse", l ike t he r est o f t he d wellings e ntirely o f c halkstone. T he p lan o f t he h ouse

b uilt s quare

s paces

t here

i s

b ut

i s e xecuted v ery

n o p erfectly

s quare

c ontinuum o f s traight s ections b ut o ver t he e ntire l ength ( s. f ig. 2 4, w alls t he

i s u niform e nough: e ast

f acade o f

t hickness s tone: h igh

i s

s hort

o f

e xcept

s tone,

1 .30 m .

t ell, a re

a

T he w alls a re o f

t herefore

s ections o n

t he e ntranceway t wo

r oughly d ressed h ard s tone, a nd

t o

h ouse

f or t he w all

l ength o f t he s tones b etween 0 .35 l ight

t ruth

t he

i s o n

d o n ot c onstitute a s traight l ine 2 5, 2 6) ( 7). T he t hickness o f t he

0 .60-0.70 m ,

t he b ottom t iers o f w ith t he

T he w alls o f

t he h ouse o n e ither s ide o f

j ust

t iers - s oft,

l oosely s o t hat,

r oom.

i n S hivta, i s b ased

a bout

t o 0 .45 m ;

l arger,

w hose

k inds

o f

0 .30 m

t he u pper

w ith t he h eight

o f

t he t ier 0 .40 m a nd t he g enerally u niform l ength o f t he s tone a bout 0 .50 m ( s. f ig. 3 6) ( 8). T his s tone, b eing s ofter, i s e asier t o w ork a nd

i s

t herefore h ewn m uch m ore p recisely.

I n t he

i nner p artitions,

e specially i n t he n orthern w ing, u nhewn s tones w ere a lso u sed t o f ill t he s paces b etween t he r ough-hewn s tones ( s. f ig. 3 4, 3 5). T he w alls a re b uilt

t wo-faced.

T he b onding a gent b etween t he

l ayers w as

c ement

o r c lay. A s

r equired,

f illed w ith 3 7, f rom

3 8).

s mall N o

t he

t he

s pace b etween t he t wo

f aces o f

t he

u nhewn s tones m ixed w ith c ement o r c lay

c eilings h ave b een p reserved i n

r emains a nd t he f inds

w all

( s.

t he " Pool H ouse",

i n t he n earby h ouses

t heir

w as

f ig. 3 3, f orm

b ut c an

e asily b e r econstructed. T he c eiling, a lso m ade o f s tone, r ested o n a s ystem o r a rches s upported b y p ilasters s et i n t he w all ( s. f ig. 3 7, 3 8) a nd, f or t he m ost p art, s tanding o n t he f loor. T he p ilasters, n otably u niform f or t he m ost p art, v ary i n w idth f rom 0 .50 t o 0 .60 m . a nd a re t opped b y f lat c ornices, i n m ost i nstances u ndecorated. T hese c ornices i ndicate t he e nd o f t he c olumn a nd t he s tart o f t he a rch ( s. f ig.

3 8).

I n

t he

t wo r ooms

( no.

1 02-103),

t he a rches

d o n ot

r est

o n

t he p ilasters b ut b egin d irectly f rom t he w all. d ing o n i ts s ize, t here w ere t wo o r t hree a rches,

I n e ach r oom , d epent he d istance b etween

t he

m aterial

a rches d etermined b y t he

b uilders s tone

a pparently

l imitations

o f

t he

l earned b y e xperience t he m aximum

s labs w hich w ere s et b etween t he a rches

t he r oom. i s a bout T he

T hus

i t

1 .20 m ( s. a rches

s eems f ig.

t hat 2 4,

t he a verage

2 5,

2 6)

T he

f orm t he c eiling

t he o f

d istance b etween t he a rches

( 10).

a re a l ways p arallel

3 4

t o

( 9).

l ength o f

t o

t he r oom's w all

w hich

i s

a t

t he

c ourtyard.

T he p ilasters a re s et

i n b oth s ides o f t he

w all

i n

p airs s o t hat t hey f orm a c ontinuous s ystem o f a rches t hrough t he l ength o f t he b uilding, a s ystem w hich o ffsets t he h orizontal f orces a t w ork o n t he a rches ( s. f ig. 2 4). T he a rches a re b uilt o f w ell-hewn s tones m easuring a pproximately 0 .60 x 0 .40 x 0 .20 m . T he c eiling s labs a re m ore r oughly h ewn, A rchitectural A .

x 0 .70 x 0 .15 m .

D etails

E ntrances

w hich o ther, n o.

m easuring 1 .20 t o 1 .00 m .

I n t he " Pool H ouse" n o l intels w ere p reserved b ut t wo: o ne, i s a l ater a ddition o ver t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 1 08, a nd t he i n t he e ntrance b uilt w ith t he w all d ividing r ooms n o. 1 05 a nd

1 06.

T hese

l intels a re p lain,

s mooth s tone b eams

( s.

f ig.

2 4,

2 5,

3 5). I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat p lain l intels i n t he f orm o f s mooth b eams, s ometimes e ngraved w ith g eometric o r s tylized f loral f igures, s uch a s w ere f ound i n a f ew h ouses a t S hivta, w ere a lso u sed i n t he " Pool H ouse". T he s mooth d oor :-posts a re w ell c rafted. I n a f ew p laces, s uch a s t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 1 10, t he d oor-posts b roaden a t t he b ottom i nto b ases o f s orts ( s. f ig. 3 9). I t s eems t hat o nly o ne o f t he s tructure's e ntrances w as a rched ( s. f ig. 3 4), b ut o ne m ay a ssume t hat t he m ain e ntrance,

o n t he e ast

s ide,

b ecause o f

i ts o bvious w idth, w as

a rched. T he h ouse h as n o w indows a nd t he l ighting o f t he r ooms i s v ia t he d oorways. I n r oom n o. 1 05 t here i s a n a perture ( measuring 0 .35 x 0 .46 m .), w hose p urpose w as, i t w ould s eem , t o o bserve t hose e ntering t he h ouse f rom t he n orth a nd n ot t o l ight t he r oom . T he a perture, l ike t he w all d ividing r ooms n o. 1 05 a nd n o. 1 06, i s a r esult o f t he c hanges w hich w ere a pparently m ade i n t he n orth f acade o f t he h ouse a t a l ater s tage o f

B .

i ts e xistence.

T he F looring

T he f looring h as b een w ell p reserved b ut o nly i n t he c ourtyard o f t he b uilding . I t i s o f c arefully h ewn s tone s labs v arying i n s ize f rom 0 .80 x 0 .40 m . t o 0 .90 x 0 .50 m . ( s. f ig. 4 0). T here i s n o k nowing w hich o f t he r ooms h ad s imilar f looring a nd i n w hich o nes t he c lay f loor w as C .

l eft.

S tructures

N iches F ive n iches m ade o f

s tone h ave b een l ocated i n t he w alls o f

t he

" Pool H ouse". T he l argest m easures 0 .80 x 0 .60 m . ( s. f ig. 4 1, 4 2). T he n iche h as s ide-posts, l intel a nd t hreshold m ade o f w ell-hewn s tone s labs.

T he d epth o f t he n iche d epends o n t he t hickness o f t he w all

i n

w hich i t i s. T he a verage d epth i s a bout 0 .50 m etres. D epressions w ere f ound i n t he c orners o f t he n iches i ndicating t hat t hey h ad w ooden d oors w hich s wung o n m etal h inges. I n t he n iche i n t he w est

3 5

w all

o f

z ontal

r oom

n o.

g rooves

1 09

i n t he

f acing t he c ourtyard, o ne c an c learly s ee h orit wo s idewalls o f t he n iche,

t ion. T hese g rooves w ere f or t he i nsertion o f w ooden, o r f or a t hin s tone s lab. T hese n iches, a nd d oors, s erved t he o ccupants a s w all c losets.

i n i ts c entre

s ec-

a s helf, p robably w ith t heir s helves

C istern A

r ound o pening f or d rawing w ater f rom t he c entral

c istern

w as

f ound i n t he n orthwest c orner o f t he c ourtyard - b ut i t h as n ot y et b een e xamined. I t p robably e xtends b eneath t he c ourtyard f loor l ike t he c isterns i n m ost o f S hivta's b uildings. T he o pening's d iameter i s 0 .36 m etres a nd g rooves a re c learly v isible o n i ts s ides - l eft b y t he r opes, i ndicating t he c istern's p rolonged u se. N ear t his o pening i s a s ma ller o ne, 0 .16 c m i n d iameter, w hich i s t he l ast s ection o f t he s tone g utter ( s. f ig. 4 3). I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat i t d rained t he r ain w aters f rom t he r oofs i nto t he c istern. O n t he o ther h and, n othing h as b een f ound t o i ndicate t hat t he c ourtyard a rea i tself w as d rained o ff D .

( 11).

A rchitectural D ecoration

I n c ontrast t o t he e xcellent c onstruction t o b e f ound a t S hivta, t he p overty o f t he a rchitectural d ecoration s tands o ut. E specially i s t his f elt i n t he c ity 's r esidences. T o b e s ure, i n a f ew h ouses a n umber o f d ecorated l intels a nd c apitals h ave b een u ncovered, w ere i n s econdary u se ( 12).

b ut m ost

T he a rchitectural e mbellishment a t t he " Pool-House" i s m ost l imited. O n t he f lat c ornices w hich i ndicate t he e nd o f t he p ilaster a nd t he s tart o f t he a rch, o ne m ay s ometimes f ind a d ecoration c ons isting o f t riangular " teeth" ( Dog-tooth) a rranged i n a h orizontal s trip o n t he b ottom o f t he c ornice ( s. f ig. 4 4). A t t he e ntrance t o r oom

1 07,

o n t he u pper p art o f t he w estern d oor-post,

o ne f inds

a

s quare c orner c apital, p erhaps o ut o f p lace ( s. f ig. 4 5). T wo o f i ts f our f aces a re d ecorated. T he t wo a re o f t he s ame h eight b ut d iffer i n w idth ( the w ide f ace m easures 0 .30 x 0 .25 m ., t he n arrower i s 0 .17 x 0 .25 m .). T he c apital i s c omposed o f f our s trips o f h orizontal d ecoration: t he b ottom s trip h as t riangular t eeth s culpted t o d escend f rom a s trip o f o vals. A bove t hat s trip - a d ecoration i n t he l iken ess o f a n e gg a nd d art b etween t wo p lain p rotrusions;

a nd,

f inally,

a

r ough r ope d ecoration ( s. f ig. 4 5). T he t hree s trips o f d ecoration t ake u p h alf t he h eight o f t he c apital. T he s econd, u pper, h alf i s i n t he f orm o f a N abatean c apital. T he t hree c orners p rotrude l ike h orns w ith a s unken a rea b etween t hem f rom w hich a t riangular p rojection p rotrudes. T his c apital, i n i ts s hape, s ize a nd m anner o f d ecoration, r esembles a N abatean c apital

d iscovered i n i ts t ime a t 1

4 1, 4

"

1 1

4 !,

),

H alutza ( 13).

), • ,

I t i s n ot c lear w hether t he " Pool-House" h ad a s econd s torey. N o h int o f a s tairwell o r s taircase h as b een f ound i n t he b uilding, a nd t he f inish o f t he c eiling i s o t t he s ame t hroughout t he h ouse. A c alculation o f t he h eight o f t he c eiling a bove t he a rches i ndicates t hat t he c eiling o f t he n orth w ing o f t he h ouse w as l ower t han t hat o f r ooms n o. 1 08-111 ( 14).

( rooms n o. 1 02-106) A ll o f t he a bove d oes

n ot

s tory a bove a

p reclude

t he p ossibility o f

a n a dditional

3 6

c ertain

s ection

o f t he r ooms

( 15).

T he " Pool

H ouse"

i s a c ity

d welling

n o

d ifferent i n p lan, f orm a nd n ature o f b uilding a nd a rchitectural d ecoration f rom t he o ther d wellings i n S hivta. I t w as c hosen a s a t arget f or r esearch i nto t he p rivate b uilding a t S hivta b ecause o f i ts f ine p reservation a nd i ts e ase o f a ccess. T he h ouse i s i n t he v ery h eart o f t he c ity, n ear t he m ain c ity r eservoir. t he p ublic d omain w hile, w alls a re i n c ommon w ith

t he " Pool S quare" w hich e xtends w estward t o T he n orth a nd e ast f acades o f t he h ouse f ace o n t he o ther h and, t he s outhern a nd w estern t he n earby d wellings w hich h ave n ot y et b een

i nvestigated. F or

l ack

o f a rchaeological

f indings,

w e c annot

d etermine

t he

p recise c haracter o f t he h ouse e xcept t o i ndicate i ts t wo m ain f unct ions: r esidential a nd c ommercial. T he h ouse i s n ot o utstanding i n i ts a rchitectural d ecoration n or i s i t u nusual i n i ts p lanning o r c onstruction. W e l ack d ata i ndicating t he e conomic o r s ocial s tatus o f

i ts o wners a nd o nly i ts c entral

i ts n orth s ide c an h int

l ocation a nd t he r ow o f s tores

o n

i n t hat d irection.

C hronologically, t he " Pool H ouse" f its i nto t he B yzantine p eriod ( 5th a nd 6 th c enturies C .E.) w ell. I ts p lan, s tyle a nd n ature o f b uilding a nd a rchitectural d ecoration a re v ery s imilar t o t he r est o f t he

B yzantine d wellings

i n S hivta a nd t he o ther N egev c ities.

O ther

d etails a s w ell, s uch a s t he k inds o f s tone, t he p lacement o f t he t iers a nd t he f orms o f h ewing - a ll a re r emarkably u niform i n m ost o f t he d wellings a t S hivta a nd i n t he b uildings o f t he B yzantine i n t he o ther N egev c ities ( 16).

3 7

p eriod

N OTES 1 .

O ne

m ay a ssume t hat

e xpedition w as

a t

( s.

C h.

t he " Pool-House" w as e xcavated b y t he I ,

R esearch H istory,

l east c leared o f

n otes

7 ,

8 ),

o r

C olt

t hat

i t

t he d ebris d uring t he s ite's r econstruc-

t ion b etween 1 958-1960 b y t he N ational

P arks A uthority.

N either

a forementioned b ody h as l eft a ny d ocumentation i ndicating i ts a ctivities. H owever, t he c ondition o f t he " Pool-House" n ow , i n c ontrast t o i ts c ondition a t t he b eginning o f t he e videnced b y p hotographs ( below , n ote 5 ), s hows b ishing

w ork a nd p artial

c entury a s t hat r efur-

r estoration d id t ake p lace.

T he

l ack

o f d ocumentation o f a ny k ind m ade o ur i nvestigations a nd m easurements a t t he " Pool-House" d ifficult. I n c ertain s ections i t w as n ot e asy t o d ifferentiate b etween t he o riginal

w alls

b uilt".

I t

g rey

l ine

a nd

i s

t hose w hich h ad b een r efurbished

u nfortunate t hat

o r

" re-

t he a ccepted s ystem o f u sing

t o s eparate t he o riginal w alls

a

f rom t he r econstructed

o nes w as n ot f ollowed - a s w as d one, f or e xample, a t M amshit. " Pool-House" m easurements w ere t aken b y s tudents o f t he A rchaeol ogy S ection o f

t he B en G urion U niversity,

t he S eminar o n P eriod". T aking

B eer S heva a s p art

" The C ities o f t he N egev i n p art i n t he m easurements u nder

d irection w ere D r.

S h.

S hiber,

A rchitect

J .

o f

t he B yzantine t his a uthor's

S hereshevsky,

M r.

S h. K ornberg a nd M rs. I . E ldar. W orthy o f s pecial n ote i s t he c ontribution o f A rchitect J . S hereshevsky w ho p repared t he h ouse p lan a nd t he c ross s ections ( s. f ig. 2 4, 2 5). T he I sometric r econstruction B uonamico

o f t he " Pool-House"

( s.

f ig.

2 6).

t he w inter a nd s pring o f 2 .

r ence,

t he a nd

i n

t he m atter o f

S hivta, a nd e ven p resent s chematic p lans o f ( fig. 2 2), s ee: C .L. W oolley, T .E. L aw-

T he W ilderness o f Z in,

7 9, f igs. W iegand,

A .

1 979.

W oolley a nd L awrence d evote a b rief d escription t o p rivate b uilding a t 3 t ypical d wellings

P EF A nnual

1 0-12. a lso, i n h is d escription o f

( 3),

S hivta,

1 914-1915, a nalyzes

p p.

a t

7 5-

l ength

s ystems o f c onstruction u sed i n S hivta's p rivate b uildings g ives s chematic p lans ( more p recise t han t hose o f W oolley -

L awrence)

o f t he d wellings b ut w ithout

i n t he c ity 's p lan g and, 3 .

i s t he w ork o f A rchitect

T he o n-site m easurements w ere d one

S inai,

( s.

h erein,

B erlin-Leipzig,

f ig.

1 920,

i ndicating 2 3,

p p.

a -b),

7 2-74,

t heir

s ee:

f ig.

l ocation

T h.

W ie-

6 0.

T he r esults o f t he A vdat a nd M amshit e xcavations h ave b een p ublished. F rom t he e arlier r eports o f t hese

n ot y et s ites i t

w ould a ppear t hat m ost o f t heir a ttention h as b een g iven t o t he N abatean b uilding a nd t he c hurches. A s ingle p lan o f a B yzant ine

h ouse a t A vdat w as p ublished b y P rof.

E ilat

( Hebrew),

d escription ( below, i n 3 .

b ut t he

w ith

n ote

7 );

S efer E ilat, S ee a lso:

i t s . o p. A .

s mall

s ize o f t he

d o n ot p ermit A .

N egev,

f ull

C hapters

u se

A .

N egev i n

S efer

s ketch a nd t he b rief o f

t his

m aterial

i n t he H istory o f A vdat,

c it., J erusalem, 1 963, p p. 1 18-148, f ig. 1 N egev, " Avdat i n t he L ater R oman a nd B yzan-

t ine P eriod", ( Hebrew), " Madan, V III, 3 , 1 963, p p. 1 83-187; A . N egev, Mamshit i n t he L ater R oman P eriod ( Hebrew), " Mada", X VI, 4 , p . 2 30. I n a r eport o f t here

i s

a b it

t he N itzana e xcavations p ublished

i n t he

o n d omestic a rchitecture a t N itzana.

3 8

S ee:

' 60's, H .D.

C olt, E xcavations a t N essana I , L ondon, 1 962, p p. 7 -9. T hough t his s hort c hapter d eals w ith N itzana, i t i s a pplicable t o

S hivta a s w ell,

b uilding, t ions . 4 .

t he

e specially w here

m aterials,

W ithout

t he e xcavations

e xtent

a nd

T he

d eals w ith t he

i n t he a rea w est

t he e xact c onfiguration o f

d etermined, s . h erein c hapter 2 , p . 2 5). 5 .

i t

s ystem o f

t he k inds o f h ewing a nd t he

o f t he

d ecora-

r eservoir,

t he

t he s quare c ould n ot

t he d iscussion o f

t he S hivta

b e

p lan

" Pool-House" w as p hotographed b oth b y W oolley a nd

( s.

L awrence

a nd b y W iegand. T hese p hotos h elp s omewhat t o d istinguish t he o riginal f rom t he r econstructed ( s. h erein, n ote 1 ); s ee: C . L . W oolley, c it., 6 .

T .E.

f ig.

L awrence,

T he a rched e ntrance h ouse. h ad

I t

s eems

l intels

i s

i n t he f orm o f

T his

s pecial

t ook

n o p ains

a ny o f t he

f igs.

1 -2;

T h.

o f

s .

T h.

W iegand,

o p.

T his a rchway w as

c it.,

i s c haracteristic o f

t he d wellings a t

t herefore

m isleading

T he p lans o f w e

S hivta a nd

i n

i s

i n

t he

o ther

N egev

S hivta w hich w ere

t o c omplain

b y p resenting s traight w alls. t he " Pool-House"

s ection

t he B yzantine b uilding i n

t he d wellings a t

h ave n o g rounds

6 7.

a re s chematic

t hat

I n t ruth,

t hey

a re

t he d rawn

r eally c haracteristic o f m ost

o f

S hivta's d wellings e xcellent r eview:

( s. f ig. 2 4, 2 5, 2 6). O n t his, s ee K endall's W . K endall, A rchitectural R eport, i n:

N essana I ,

1 962,

A

s tudy

L ondon, o f

p p.

2 5-31.

t he B yzantine " Cave-House" a t A vdat

r eveals

h ere, t oo, s ections b ut

t he r ooms a re n ot s quare a nd t he w alls d o n ot f orm a c ontinuous s traight l ine.

o f t he Avdat

" Cave-House",

t o

t he o riginal

p ublished ( s. 8 .

f ig.

t he b uilders w ho

p ublished b y W oolley-Lawrence a nd a lso b y W iegand,

p icture o f

o p.

i n t he " Pool-House"

s mooth s tone b eams.

t o h ave e ven o ne c ontinuous s traight

c ities a s w ell. a nd

W iegand,

i ts k ind p reserved i n t he

o f t he e ntrances

t rait o f n egligence o r c oncern o f

t he w alls,

r est

c it.,

t he o nly o ne o f

t hat m ost

p hotographed b y W iegand, 7 .

o p.

6 7 .

f ig.

a s s hown h ere,

p lan m ade a t

t he t ime o f

2 9).

A lso

f lat p lan

w as d rawn u p a ccording t he e xcavations.

h ere w ith t he g enerous p ermission o f P rof. 2 8,

t hat

a re T he

I t

A .

i s

N egev

s ee n ote 3 .

A lready a t t he b eginning o f t he 2 0th c entury, t he i nvestigators n oticed t he u se o f v arious k inds o f s tone i n S hivta's b uildings a s w ell a s i n t he o ther N egev c ities. L awrence, o p. c it., p . 7 7. T he e xcavators o f k inds

C .L.

S hivta a nd N itzana a nalyze m ore

o f s tone u sed b y t he S hivta

S 'baita,

S ee:

P EF Q St.,

1 935,

p .

1 78;

b uilders. W .

K endall,

W oolley,

t horoughly t he

S ee: o p.

T .E.

C .

c it.,

B aly, p p.

2 5-

I n t he h ouse p lan a nd t he i sometric r econstruction ( s. f ig. and 2 6) i t a ppears t hat r oom n o. 1 08 h as o nly o ne a rch.

2 4 I n

2 8. 9 .

f act,

t he

s outhern p art o f

t he r oom

i s v ery d estroyed a nd

h eaps o f r uins d o n ot p ermit a p recise r econstruction. n o. 1 06, t he w est a rch i s p art o f t he w all d ividing i t 1 05

( s.

f ig.

3 5).

3 9

t he

I n r oom f rom n o.

1 0.

A s

n oted,

t he c eilings

s erved b ut w est o f t he

i n t he " Pool-House" h ave n ot b een

s ome r oofing s labs h ave

i t;

l ikewise,

r emained i n s itu

i n t he " Stable-House"

" Pool-House" o riginal

p re-

i n t he h ouse

l ying s outh-west o f b een

p re-

s erved. T his s ystem o f r oofing b ased o n t he u se o f s tone i nstead o f w ooden b eams i s w idespread i n p arts o f I srael,

s labs S yria

a nd

A rabia

s ections o f c eilings h ave

a nd h as b een d elved i nto v ery t horoughly b y

a

f ew

i nvestigators. T his s ystem h ad a lready b een i nstituted i n t he N abatean b uildings a t M amshit ( the s tart o f t he 2 nd c entury C .E.).

S ee:

A .

N egev,

T he F lourishing o f M amshit

N abatean P eriod ( Hebrew), A . N egev, T he N abateans Y .

G radus

( editors),

T he N egev - M an a nd D esert

l ished b y t he M inistry o f D efence, f ig.

2 3,

2 5,

i n t he L ater

" Mada", I VI, 3 , 1 971, p p. 1 42-146; i n t he N egev ( Hebrew), i n E . S hmuelli, 1 979,

v ol.

( Hebrew), 1 ,

p p.

p ub-

2 26-269,

3 3.

T his r oofing s ystem r emained b asic e ven i n t he R oman a nd B yzantine, w ithout e ssential

t he l ater c hange.

p eriods: A ll t he

i nvestigators a nd e xcavators w ho h ave w orked i n t he N egev c ities d escribe a t l ength t he r oofing s ystem o f s tone s labs r esting o n a rches g and, t his

( see, f or e xample, f ig. 2 7 t aken f rom W iegand; T h. W ieo p. c it., f ig. 6 5). W e f eel t hat a c omparison b etween r oofing s ystem o f

t he N egev c ities a nd t hose

t ems u sed i n t he G olan,

s imilar

s ys-

H auran a nd S yria w ill e nable u s t o f ind

a c ertain n oteworthy u niqueness i n t he r oofing s ystem p racticed i n t he N egev c ities. W e d o n ot m ean t hat t he l ength o f t he s tone

s labs,

f or

t hat

m aterial a t h and. m ade

m uch

i s

u se o f

t he s trong b asalt

c eiling s labs r eached 3 m . s tone

s labs a re 2 m .

S ettlements

d etermined b y t he

n ature

o f

I n t he G olan a nd t he o ther a reas w here

l ong.

s tone,

a nd m ore. S ee:

t he

l ength

o f

E ven i n t he G alilee, Z .

Y eivin,

i n t he G alilee a nd i n t he G olan o f

t he t hey t he t he

" A S urvey o f t he t he M ishnaic

a nd

T almudic P eriod i n t he L ight o f t he S ources" ( Hebrew) ( dissertat ion), J erusalem, 1 971, p . 1 74. S ee, f or e xample, i bid., a h ouse i n K horazin, o f

f ig.

8 8 o r a h ouse i n R aphid,

l aying t he b eams

S hivta:

i n t hese p laces w as

" The o rigin o f

f ig.

8 7.

d ifferent

s uch a n e xpanse,

a s

T he

s ystem

f rom t hat

s tated,

i s

t he

a t l ong

s tone b eams w hose l ength d id n ot e xceed 2 m . T hese b eams w ere p laced o n a t op l ayer w hich p rotruded i nto t he s pace a t t he t op o f t he

t wo w alls p aralleling t he e xpanse.

e arth,

S ome

c lay a nd p laster w as p laced o n t he

p . 1 74 . F rom t he

a bove d escription i t

a dditional

d evice

f iller,

s traw ,

s tone b eams".

I bid.,

a ppears t hat

i n t he

G alilee

w as u sed t o n arrow t he d istance b etween

a n t he

a rch a nd t he w all, a k ind o f h orizontal s upport e xtending f rom t he w all f or s ome t ens o f c entimetres. T his s ystem w as u nknown i n S hivta o r t he o ther N egev c ities. A lso B utler, i n h is s uperb s tudy o f a rchitecture i n S yria, p ays g reat a ttention t o t he r oofing s ystem. T he G olan, T rachon a nd H auran r egions w ere n oted f or t heir l ack o f w ood s uited t o b uilding, o n t he o ne h and, t hese

a nd f or t heir e xcellent b uilding s tone, o n t he o ther. I n r egions, a ll t he s paces w ere r oofed b y m eans o f s tone

b eams

( slabs)

p rotruding

t he o ther A rts, D jebel H auran), ( ..."of m ore

w hich r ested i n a rches

f rom t he w all. N ew Y ork, p p.

a nd

S ee:

H .C.

1 903,

s .

s upports

B utler,

c h.

9 ( Architecture

3 10-413.

t he m inor d etails o f c onstruction n one

i mportant

( corbels)

A rchitecture a nd

t han t he c orbel c ourses w hich

4 0

i s p ro-

i n t he

.

j ected f rom w alls a t a ny l evel w here h orizontal s labs o f s tone w ere t o b e s upported, w hether f or r oofs o r i ntermediate f loors...") ( ibid., p . 3 15). F rom t he T rachon ( Ledja) a rea B utler b rings a dditional e xamples o f t his r oofing s ystem. S ee: H .C. B utler, P rinceton U niversity A rchaeological E xpedition t o S yria, D iv. I I, S ec. A ., S outhern S yria, P art 7 : T he L edja, p p. 4 24-426, i lls. 3 66-368. S ee a lso: M . D e V ogue, W .H.Waddington, L a S yrie C entrale, P aris, 1 865. 1 . T he h ouse i n D ouma, S yria, s ee h ere f ig.30; i bid., p late 1 2. 2 . T he b asilica a t C haqqa i n H auran, s ee h ere f ig. 3 1; i bid., p late 1 6. 3 . A nother b uilding f rom Q aisarieh d e C haqqa, s ee h ere f ig. 3 2; i bid., f ig. 1 2 o n p age 4 7. I n t he t wo b uildings m entioned a bove, r eduction o f t he s pace b etween t he w all a nd t he a rch w as d one o n b oth s ides; b oth b y a c orbe l p rojecting h orizontally f rom t he w all a nd b y a l ike s upport h orizontally c apping t he a rch. T hus t he a rch, o r m ore p recisely,

t he p illar,

c ould b e e xtended a n a dditional d istance

f rom t he w all. A r oofing s ystem s imilar t o t hat u sed a t C haqqa w as f ound a t K far N assag i n t he B ashan. S ee M . B en D ov, H ouses o f t he R oman B yzantine P eriod a t K far N assag ( Hebrew), " Eretz I srael", X II, .1 71-185, p lates 3 2-34. H ere, b ecause o f t he e xcellent q uality o f t he l ocal b asalt s tone, t he a verage l ength o f t he s tone s labs i s a bout 3 .8 m ( against 1 .2 m . a t S hivta) a nd t he s olution A t K far

r oofing s ystem u sed i n t hese h ouses p resents a nother t o t he p roblem o f r oofing t he e xpanses o f t he r ooms. N assag, t he c orbel p rotrudes f rom t he w all i n a c on-

t inuous h orizintal

l ine f or a bout

0 .50 m .

a nd i s e ven d ecorated

o n i ts b ottom p art w ith a l ow r elief. O n t he o ther h and, i n m ost c ases, w e d o n ot f ind a s imilar h orizontal s upport o n t he a rch s uch a s w e s aw a t C haqqa. H ere, a s s tated, t he s lab r ests o n t he s upport p rotruding f rom t he w all o n t he o ne s ide a nd o n t he w all a bove t he a rch o n t he o ther ( s. i bid., p lates 3 3:4, 5 ; 3 4 : 1 , 2 a nd f ig. 8 , 1 1, 1 2). I f w e e xamine a ll t he r oofing s ystems w e h ave c ited, i t w ould s eem t hat w e a re s peaking o f a n i dentical c oncept, a dapted a nd v aried i n d ifferent p laces i n c onformity w ith t he n ature o f t he m aterial f ound t here a nd t he s ize o f t he e xpanse t o b e r oofed o ver. T he s ystem u sed i n t he N egev , t hough t he m ost s imple a nd m odest o f t hose w hich h ave b een s urveyed, w as n ot i nferior t o t hem e ither i n i ts e fficiency o r i ts a bility 1 1.

t o h old u p.

I n t he " Governor's H ouse", f or e xample, r amified n etwork o f w ater c hannels w hich

o ne c an m ake d rained t he

o ut a e ntire

c entral c ourtyard a rea i nto a c istern w hose m outh w as f ound t he c entre o f t he c ourtyard ( see b elow, c hapter V I, f ig. 1 7,

i n p .

1 91). 1 2.

N ot

o ne

a rchitectural

d etail

f rom S hivta h as m erited a ny

s ub-

s tantial s cientific p ublication. S ections o f t he s tone d ecorat ion d iscovered i n t he c hurches w ere s ketched a nd p hotographed b y

v arious i nvestigators w ho v isited S hivta.

A

f ew

l intels,

d ecorated d oorposts a nd a n umber o f c apitals d ecorating s ome o f t he c ity 's d wellings h ave n ot b een p ublished a t a ll. ( As a c ontinuation o f o ur s tudy o f S hivta, w e i ntend t o g ather t og ether a ll t he a rchitectural

i tems

4 1

f ound a t S hivta p lus a n umber

o f o ther d ecorated l inetls n ow i n t he N egev Museum i n B eer-Sheva a nd p ublish t hem i n a n o rderly f ashion). T he b est p hotographs o f t he a rchitectural i tems a re i n t he A rchives o f t he D epartment o f A ntiquities, b ut i n t he n ature o f t hings a ccess t o t hem i s l imited. A f ew o f t he d ecorated l int els w ere p ublished i n P rof. A . N egev 's p opular v olume. S ee A . N egev , D esert C ities ( Hebrew), L ewin-Epstein, T el; A viv, 1 966. S ee i ts i llustrations o n p p. 7 1, 7 4-75, 8 1, 8 3. S ee a lso: R . R osenthal, B auform u nd K ult i n d en N egevkirchen, D as H eilige L and 1 08 ( 1976), p p. 7 -30. ( See i ts i llustrations o n p p. 1 4, 2 2, 2 3). 1 3.

A . N egev , N abatean C apitals i n t he T owns o f t he N egev , ( 1974), p p. 1 53-159, p l. 2 8 ( e), ( Elusa, n o. 4 036).

1 4 .

I n t he i sometric r econstruction o f t he " Pool-House" ( s. f ig. 2 6), n o g raphic e xpression w as g iven t o t he f act t hat t he a rches w hich b ore t he c eilings i n t he r ooms o f t he n orth w ing a re m uch l ower t han t he a rches i n t he r est o f t he h ouse.

1 5.

I n t he " Governor's H ouse", t he c entral b uilding o f a p ublic c haracter w hich l ies s outh o f C entral C hurch, o ne c an c learly

I EJ

2 4

d iscern a t l east t wo l evels: t he h igher o ne w hich h ad t he t ower i n t he s outhern p art o f t he h ouse a nd t he l ower o ne o f t he a djacent w ings o n b oth s ides o f t he c entre c ourtyard ( s. b elow , f ig. 1 , p . 1 77). T he h ouse w as s ketchd s chematically a nd v ery i mprecisely b y b oth W oolley-Lawrence a nd W iegand b ut y et r eally b een i nvestigated. S ee: o p. c it., f ig. 1 7; T h. W iegand, o p. I t

i s

i t h as

C .J. W oolley, T .E. c it., f ig. 7 5.

n ot

L awrence,

r easonable t o a ssume t hat a s imilar s ituation p revailed a t

t he " Pool-House". T he f ine p reservation o f r oom n o. 1 07 ( perh aps a t ower s imilar t o t he o ne o n t he s outh s ide o f t he " Govern or's H ouse") a nd r oom n o. 1 08, c an a ttest t o t he f act t hat t here w ere t wo s tories a t l east t o a c ertain ( east) s ection o f t he h ouse. 1 6.

F inding H ouse",

a N abatean c apital ( see h erein, n ote 3 ) i n t he " Pool e ven i f n ot i n i ts o riginal s ite, r aises o nce a gain o ne

o f t he i nteresting q uestions a bout t he c ultural c haracter o f t he B yzantine N egev. T he r esearch o f r ecent y ears c learly s hows t hat s ive n ames

t he N abateans c ontinued t o b e s trong a nd c ulturally d ecif actor e ven i n t he N egev o f t he B yzantines. T he N abatean o f

t he c hurchmen i n H alutza a nd N itzana,

t he i nscription

r ecently f ound a t t he t heatre o f H alutza. A ll t hese i ndicate t he v itality o f t he N abatean e lement i n t he 3 rd a nd 4 th c ent uries C .E. W e h ave n oted t he f act t hat a s hort d istance f rom " Pool H ouse", s outh o f i t, t here i s a l arge h ouse w ith a s table. T he h ouse h as n ot y et b een e xcavated a nd t he p iles o f d ebris i n i t p revent i ts e xamination t o t hat i t i s d ifficult t o d etermine i ts p lan. E ven a c ursory i nvestigation, h owever, b rings t o m ind t he s imilarity o f t he s tables a t M amshit. T he " Pool-House" i tself i s, t o b e s ure, a B yzantine b uilding b elonging a pparently t o t he 5 th c entury C .E. b ut i ts p roximity t o t he " Stable H ouse" ( see b elow c h. a nd

t he

I V,

p p.

8 7-123), p oints

t o zultural

l engthy u se o f r elatively e arly b uildings.

c ontinuity I t

w ould

a ppear t hat t he s ituation w ith w hich w e a re a lready f amiliar, a t A vdat o r M amshit, o f u sing b uildings f or m any y ears, a lso

4 2

p revails

a t

( Hebrew),

S hivta, f rom:

E .

s ee:

A .

S hmueli,

N egev , Y .

T he N abateans

G radus

( editors),

i n t he N egev o p.

c it.,

p p.

S ainte

1 64

2 67-268. A .

N egev,

( 1974), i dem,

p p.

P ress,

- V ille N abateenne,

B ible e t

T erre

1 1-18.

T he N abateans

N iedergang i dem,

E lusa

a nd t he P rovincia A rabia,

d er R omischen W elt

T he G reek

I nscriptions

J erusalem,

I I,

8 B erlin,

f rom t he N egev,

1 981.

4 3

i n:

1 977,

A ufstieg u nd

p p ' .

6 82-683.

F ranciscan P rinting

C A )

0 37

0 37

U '

, • m ein i s la " " «.

•

' 2 . =

£421 .1 _ .‘ . ‘

036 0 36

‘ ' ‘ ;

er\

• ‘ ? :

,

0 35

0 35

034

0 34 -

c r IZ Z.

. •

r

0 33

0 33

. .1 '

, •

0 32

" 4 .

. .z. . . . . ..

0 31 1 I

•

I IT

t s i g .

1•

I

V

;

Z51-:

-

• . . .

I r y

0 30

l a;

F ig.

1 .

S hivta Region

4 7

rh .

0

P. L.0 30

F ig.

2 .

T he N egev c ities

4 8

i n

t he

B yzantine p eriod

F ig.

3 .

S hivta,

a erial p hoto

4 9

s cale

1 :1000

F ig.

F ig.

4 .

5 .

S hivta,

c ity p lan

S hivta,

( according t o P almer)

c ity p lan

5 0

( according

t o M usil)

F ig.

6 .

S hivta,

c ity p lan

( according t o

W oolley a nd L awrence)

F ig.

7 .

S hivta,

c ity p lan

( according t o W iegand)

5 1

5 2

c ity c onfiguration

SH IVTA ESSE ITA

o —

5 3 P lan

( according

C olt E xpedition)

c r )

5 4 North Church p lan

F ig.

1 1.

S hivta,

C entral

C hurch a nd " Governor's H ouse"

( according t o W oolley a nd L awrence)

F ig.

1 2.

S hivta, C entral C hurch a nd ( according t o W iegand)

" Governor's H ouse"

E l SH 1VTA

F ig.

1 3.

S hivta,

S outhern C hurch

E xpedition)

5 6

( according

t o C olt

; war /

1,1 ) n

1 97 1 1

F ig.

SH IVTA

n,i )n

0

1 13 i rria

1 4.

2 5

oun ) n

e

S hivta, o riginal

c ity p lan s cale

C IT Y P L AN e e wa l pho to mterp reti mon GRI ME R

( according

1 :1000)

5 7

50

BARUC H

1 978

t o a erial

p hoto

F ig.

1 5.

C onfiguration p lan o f S hivta; t he c ity 's b uilt-up a reas ( according t o a erial p hoto, o riginal s cale 1 :1000)

5 8

9 • *SEGA L ,

F ig.

1 6.

S hivta;

c onfiguration p lan o f

p ublic a reas

t he

s quares,

( according t o a erial p hoto,

1 :1000)

5 9

s treets

o riginal

a nd s cale

S H IVTA

°

2 5

5 0

@

A

S EG

A m i m m m i l m ig

F ig.

1 7.

S hivta;

c onfiguration p lan o f

a ccording t o a erial

p hoto,

6 0

t he b locks a nd q uarters

o riginal

s cale

1 :1000)

F ig.

1 8a.

K horazin,

c ity p lan

6 2

( based o n a erial

p hoto)

n i unn -3 . 1nD

0

F ig.

1 9.

M amshit,

6 3

c ity p lan

1 0

20

3 0

4 0

5 0

kg

F ig.

2 0.

M amshit,

a erial

p hoto

6 4

( reduced,

o riginal

1 :1000)

F ig.

2 1.

A vdat,

A erial p hoto

6 5

( reduced,

o riginal

1 :1000)

6 6

( according t o W oolley a nd L awrence)

1 40

F ig.

2 3.

S hivta,

2 d wellings

0

( a,

. 0

b )

me l er

( according

t o W iegand)

A

SHI V TA ?

7 % 1

F ig.

0

2 4.

S hivta,

• 6 7

" Pool

H ouse"

p lan

6 8

F ig.

2 6.

S hivta,

" Pool H ouse",

r econstruction

6 9

a n a ttempt a t a p artial

i sometric

E

g

c r y ) i ä tt l>

7 0

" Cave—House",

" r t

C . ?

0

F ig.

3 0.

C haqqa a nd D ouma, r econstructions

7 2

S yria,

d wellings,

p lans a nd

,; , , d iee ß teA _. . e em uw p * «. *w i

•

e i J i ü

F ig.

3 1.

C haqqa,

S yria,

B asilica,

s ection

7 3

IA ;. 1 -?, ;J. b,

. .. . . . . . .r « ,. . . « .. . .... . twm ommm r

4 , 3! m a te* i

r econstructed

I t

i sometric

F ig.

3 2.

C haqqa,

S yria,

t ion o f

r oofing s ystem

Q aisarieh b uilding,

7 4

r econstruc-

F ig.

F ig.

3 3.

3 5.

S hivta,

S hivta,

" Pool-House",

" Pool-House",

g eneral

a ppearance f rom t he w est

t he d ividing w all b etween n o. 105-106.

F ig.

3 4.

S hivta,

" Pool-House",

l ooking f rom t he e ast

7 6

t he a rched e ntrance, i nto t he c ourtyard

F ig.

F ig.

3 6.

3 7.

S hivta, " Pool—House", s outheast c orner o f c ourtyard. N ote t he a rched e ntrance a nd t wo k inds o f * s tone i n t he s outh w all

S hivta, " Pool—House", v iew f rom t he n orth—west o nto a s ection n f t hp r nurtvard a nd r ooms n o. 1 10-111

F ig.

3 8.

S hivta, " Pool—House", r oom n o. 1 10. N ote t he p ilasters, c ornices a nd t he b eginning o f t he a rches. b etween

T he p hoto e mphasizes

t he d ifference

t he e xcellent w orkmanship o f

s tones o f

t he p ilasters

c rude w ork i n t he w all

7 8

t he

a nd a rches a nd s tones

t he

F ig.

3 9.

S hivtä, e ntrance

" Pool-House", t o r oom n o.

7 9

d oorpost b ase a t 1 10

t he

F ig.

4 0.

S hivta,

" Pool-House",

f ragment o f t he c ourtyard p aving

F ig.

4 2.

S hivta,

" Pool—House",

8 1

o ne

o f

t he

s mall

n iches

F ig.

4 3.

S hivta,

" Pool—House",

g utter a t

s ection o f

t he c istern e ntrance

8 2

t he

s tone

F ig.

4 4.

S hivta,

" Pool-House",

p ilaster's c ornice d ecorated w ith

" Dog-tooth"

F ig.

4 5.

S hivta,

" Pool-House",

r oom n o.104

c orner c apital

a t n orth e ntrance

t o

C HAPTER I V T HE

S TABLE H OUSE

8 5

I ntroduction T he

" Stable-House"

i s

c entral q uarter o f S hivta, c omplex ( 1).

a t

i n

t he s outhern s ection

o f

t he

w est-

t he s outhern c orner o f t he f our-building

T wo o f t he b uildings i n t his c omplex - t he " Pool H ouse" w hich w e h ave a lready d escribed a nd t he " Stable-House" - w ere p artially e xcav ated b y t he C olt E xpedition a nd w ere p repared f or t ourists i n t he e arly ' 60 's b y t he N ational P arks A uthority ( 2). D escription T he " Stab le-House"

s erved a d ual

f unction:

a s

r esidence a nd a s

s table. T he m ain f acade o f t he h ouse, t he w estern o ne, f aces t he n orth-south s treet. T his s treet c onnected P ool S quare a nd t he s outhw estern p art o f t he c ity ( s. f ig. 1 4, P . 5 7) ( 3). F rom t he s treet, t here w ere t wo e ntrances t o t he h ouse, d irectly i nto t he c ourtyard. T he e ntrances a re n ear o ne a nother a nd a re a lmost i dentical i n w idth ( s. f ig. 1 , 5 ). T he s outhern s ide o f t he h ouse, c ompletely w indowl ess, f aces a n arrow a lley w hich a pparently s kirted t he s outhern p art o f t he c omplex i n w hich, a s m entioned, t he S table-House o ccupied t he s outh-west c orner ( 4) ..

s o

T he e astern a rea o f t he h ouse h as b een o nly p artially e xcavated t hat i ts e astern f acade i s b ared o nly i n i ts s outhern p art w hich

h as a n e ntrance d irectly i nto t he s table.

T he n orthern p art o f

t his

f acade h as n ot y et b een e xcavated a nd t he p iles o f r ubble m ake i ts p recise d etermination d ifficult. O n t he n orth, t he h ouse i s b ounded b y a w all i t s hares w ith a b uilding n orth o f a nd a djacent t o t he S tab le-House w hich h as n ot b een e xcavated a nd i s t otally c overed w ith r ubble ( s. f ig. 3 , p . 4 9). T he S table-House c overs a n a rea o f a bout 3 42 s quare m etres a nd i ts g eneral c onfiguration - a n i rregular r ectangle ( 18 x 1 9 m etres). O n ly t he w all o f t he w estern f acade f acing t he s treet i s a bsolutely s traight; a ll t he o thers a re b uilt o f s traight s egments b ut d o n ot f orm a s ingle, c ontinuous s traight w all. A s m entioned, t he S tableH ouse h as t wo w ings f unctionally d efined: t he r esidential a nd t he s table. 1 .

c ally

T he R esidential W ing T he r esidential w ing i s c omprised o f f our r ooms l ying s ymmetrio n b oth s ides o f a c entral r ectangular c ourtyard: t wo r ooms

n orth o f i t a nd t wo t o i ts s outh ( s. f ig. 1 , 8 , 9 ). T wo e ntrances, c lose t o o ne a nother. l ed f rom t he s treet i nto t he c ourtyard ( 5 x 9 .5 m etres) w hich w as p aved w ith s tone s labs. S uch a n e ntrance a rrangem ent i s a n u nusual p henomenon i n S hivta w here m ost o f t he c ity 's d wellings h ave o nly o ne e ntrance f rom t he s treet ( 5). I n t he w estern p art o f t he c ourtyard, o pposite t he w all b etween t he t wo e ntrances, a s taircase w as f ound w hose l ower s ection i s w ell p reserved. A pparently t his l ed t o a s econd s torey w hich w as m inimally a bove t he s outhern w ing o f t he h ouse ( s. f ig. 1 , 5 , r ooms n o. 7 , 8 a nd f ig. 7 , 8 ). T he r ooms e ach) m etres.

i n t he n orthern w ing o f t he h ouse a re s maller ( 3.5 x 4 m etres t han t hose i n t he s outhern w ing, e ach o f w hich m easure 4 x 5 .3 I n

t he

s outheast c orner o f t he c ourtyard a n

8 7

e ntrance

w as

f ound 2 .

l eading i nto t he s table

( s.

f ig.

1 ,

6 ).

T he S table

T he s table w as p artially e xcavated b y t he C olt t eam a nd t his i s m entioned i n o ne s entence b y C . B aly ( 6). T he r esults o f t he e xcavat ion h ave n ever b een p ublished. e xcavation a t t he s ite ( 7).

T his a uthor c onducted

a

l imited

T he s table e xtends a s a n i ndependent u nit i n t he s outheast p art o f t he h ouse. I t i s r ectangular i n s hape ( 8 x 7m etres) a nd a bout 6 0 s quare m etres i n a rea ( s. f ig. 1 , 5 , 1 0, 1 1). T he s table h as t wo e ntrances: o ne f rom t he r esidential w ing 's c ourtyard i nto t he s table w hile a nother e ntranceway f ound i n t he s table's e astern w all l eads o utside ( s. f ig. 1 4). A r ow o f f ive r ectangular p illars g enerally a ligned n orth-south d ivides t he s table i nto t wo h alls: a n arrower o ne ( 3 x 7m etres) t o t he w est a nd a w ider o ne ( 3.7 x 7 m etres) t o t he e ast. T he n arrow h all i s s ubdivided b y a s olid w all w ith a n arrow p assage i nto r ooms, t he n orthern ( s. f ig. 1 , r oom n o. 4 ) a nd t he s outhern ( s. 4 , r oom n o. 6 ; s . a lso f ig. 1 2). T he

p illars

a re n ot e qual

i n s ize.

T he t hree p illars i n

t wo f ig.

t he

s outhern p art o f t he s table a re s maller t han t he t wo i n t he n orthern p art ( s. f ig. 1 , 4 , 1 1). T he p illars a re c onnected b y s mall b arrel a rches w hich f orm a n a rcade o f s ix a rches r esting o n f ive p illars a nd t wo p ilasters b uilt i nto t he w all. E ach p illar w as t he b ase f or f our a rches: t wo o n t he n orth-south a xis ( between t he p illars, a bove t he t roughs) a nd t wo o n t he e ast-west a xis. T hese a rches b ore t he c eiling o f t he s table ( s. f ig. 1 1, 1 2, 1 5). T he t roughs,

t hree i n n umber, w ere d iscovered o nly

e rn p art o f t he s table ( s. f ig. u nderwent m any c hanges a nd i t s tage

t here

w ere

t wo

i n t he s outh-

1 2). I t i s v ery c lear t hat t he s table i s p ossible t hat i n i ts m ore a ncient

a dditional t roughs b etween

t he

t wo

i n

t he

s table's n orthern s ection a s w ell ( s. f ig. 1 1, 1 2). A s h as b een s tated, t he t roughs w ere f ound b etween t he s table's t hree s outhern p illars a nd t he p ilaster b uilt i nto t he s table's s outh w all 1 , 1 1, 1 3). T hey a re s et o n f oundations b uilt o f t hree

( s. f ig. l ayers o f

r oughly h ewn s tones a t a h eight o f 0 .80 m etres a bove t he f loor p aving ( s. f ig. 1 3). T he t roughs a re n ot t he s ame s ize. T he n orthernmost i s a lso t he l ongest ( 0.78 m etres), t he n ext i s 0 .63 m etres i n l ength a nd t he s outhernmost i s 0 .62 m etres l ong. T he t hree t roughs a re i dentical i n w idth ( 0.48 m etres) a nd i n d epth ( 0.34 m etres). T hey a re b uilt o f t wo p lain s tone s labs s et b etween t he t wo p illars. m ade o f m ortar m ixed w ith g ravel

( s.

B esides t he s table a t S hivta,

f ig.

1 1,

T heir b ottoms a re

1 3).

w e n ow k now o f t wo o ther

s tables

w hich w ere e xcavated i n t he m id-60's a t K urnub ( Mamshit) b y P rof. A . N egev . T he r esults o f t heir e xcavation a re a s y et u npublished ( 8). T he l arger o f t he t wo s tables w as u ncovered i n B uilding X II w hich i s a ssigned t o t he l ate N abatean p eriod ( 9). T he s table a rea i s 1 34 s quare m etres ( 12 x 1 1.15 m etres) a nd i s d ivided i nto t hree b y t wo r ows o f i n e ach r ow ( s.

s ix r ectangular p illars w ith s ix t roughs b etween f ig. 1 8).

8 8

a bout h alls t hem

T he w ider c entral h all ( about 6 m etres w ide) w as n ot r oofed b ut t he t wo n arrower o nes ( each a bout 2 .5 m etres) w ere r oofed b y m eans o f b arrel a rches b etween t he p illars a nd t he s table w alls. T here w ere a lso b arrel a rches a bove t he t roughs s o t hat t he d esign a nd t he b uildi ng s tyle o f t he s table i n B uilding X II a t M amshit a re v ery s imilar t o t he d esign a nd b uilding s tyle o f t he s table a t S hivta. T he c oncept, t he

g rasp o f t he s pace r equired f or t he s table,

t he p lan - t hese a re

a ll v ery s imilar, y et t he a ctual i mplementation a t t he s ite d iffers c ompletely. T he c onstruction a t M amshit i s e xcellent a nd p recise, t he c haracteristic N abatean h ewing o f t he s tone i s o utstanding ( s. 2 0), t he f itting o f t he s tones, t he f inish, a re a ll n oteworthy

f ig. f or

t heir e xce llent w orkmanship; i n c ontrast, t he q uality o f t he c onstruct ion a t S hivta i s v ery l ow . W hat h as b een s aid o f t he B uilding X II s table a lso a pplies t o t he s econd, s maller o ne f ound i n B uilding V w hich

i s a lso a ttributed t o t he

l ater N abatean p eriod.

T his

s table

h as a n a rea o f a bout 7 7 s quare m etres ( 10.20 x 7 .55 m etres) a nd h ad 8 t roughs a rranged i n t wo r ows o f f our t roughs e ach. T he n ature a nd c onstruction o f t his s table w as l ike t hat i n B uilding X II a s d escribed a bove.

T he

v ery f act t hat s tables w ere f ound i n t he n orthern

N egev

h as m ost i mportant r amifications c oncerning t he e conomic b ase o f t his r egion d uring t he f irst c enturies o f t he C ommon E ra. O ne m ay s urmise t hat, i n a ddition t o t he c aravan t rade a nd a griculture, a c ertain p ortion o f t he N egev p opulation w as i nvolved w ith h orse-breeding ( 10). I t s hould b e m entioned t hat i n r ecent y ears a s table h as b een u nc overed i n R ehovot ( Ruheiba) a nd t wo m ore w ere d iscovered i n A vdat b ut t hey h ave n ot y et b een i nvestigated ( 11). T he e xcavations o f t he M amshit s tables h ave i ndicated t hat i n t he c ourse o f t he 4 th c entury C .E. t he s tables s topped f ulfilling t heir o riginal p urpose a nd t heir t roughs w ere f illed w ith g ravel. A t S hivta, o n t he o ther h and, t he e xploratory e xcavation w hich w e c ond ucted i ndicated t hat t he s table f unctioned t hrough t he 4 th a nd 5 th c enturies ( 12). Y et, f or a ll t his i nformation, w e h ave n ot b een a ble t o d etermine p recisely w hen t he S hivta s table w as b uilt. A t t his s tage o ne m ay s ay t hat t he a bsence o f t he c haracteristic m ethod o f h ewing t he s tones a s w as f ound i n b oth s tables a t

N abatean M amshit,

t he d irect a nd u ndebatable c onnection o f t he s table a nd t he d welling w ing, t he s ystem o f t he c onstruction a nd i ts n ature, a nd, f inally, t he a rchitectural d ecoration - a ll t hese i ndicate t hat t he S table H ouse a nd i ts s table d o n ot a pparently p re-date t he 4 th c entury C .E. ( s. b elow , T he

p p.

9 4-95).

S ystem a nd N ature o f t he C onstruction

T he " Stable-House", l ike t he o ther d wellings i n S hivta, i s b uilt e ntirely o f c halk-stone. T he h ouse p lan i s b ased o n s quare a nd r ecta ngular s paces w ith r ight a ngles b ut i t w as i mplemented v ery l oosely; a nd, i n t ruth, t here i s n ot a s ingle r oom w hich i s p recisely s quare. T he h ouse w alls a re s traight s egments b ut t hey d o n ot c onstitute a c ontinuous s traight l ine f or i ts e ntire l ength ( s. f ig. 1 ). T he t hickness

o f t he h ouse w alls

i s u niform e nough:

0 .60 - 0 .70 m etres.

T he w alls a re b uilt o f h ard c halk-stone o n b oth s ides ( 13). T he b inding b etween t he l ayers i s c ement o r c lay.

( s.

f ig.

9 )

V ery c lear i n t he S table-House i s t he d iversity i n t he n ature o f t he c onstruction o f t he w alls. T hus, f or e xample, t he n orthern a nd n orth-eastern w alls o f t he h ouse a re w ell-built o f l arge s quare s tones

8 9

( their s ize v arying b etween 0 .35 x 0 .30 m etres a nd 0 .40 x 0 .30 m etres) w hereas t he s outhern w all o f t he d welling w ing a nd t he s table w alls a re b uilt o f s mall g ravel a nd a re n ot u niform i n s ize ( comp. f ig. 8 , 9 , 1 2). A ll t he s paces i n t he d welling w ing a nd t he s table w ere r oofed b y c eilings r esting o n a s eries o f a rches b etween p ilasters b uilt i nto t he w a lls. O nly i n t he s table, a s m entioned, w as p art o f t he r oofing r esti ng u pon f ree-standing, s quare p illars ( s. f ig. 1 1, 1 2, 1 5). I n r oom n o. 4 , i n t he n orthwest c orner o f t he s table, t he o riginal r oofing h as b een p reserved i n i ts e ntirety ( s. f ig. 1 5). I n t he d welling w ing, i n r oom n o.3, a c omplete b arrel a rch h as s urvived ( s. f ig. 9 ). T hese e nable u s t o r econstruct t he f orm o f t he r oofing o ver t he d welling w ing a nd s table s paces w ith p recision. T he p ilasters b uilt i nto t he w alls, i n c ontrast t o t he w alls o f t he h ouse, a re c onstructed o f w ell-hewn s tones a nd a re q uite u niform i n w idth ( 0.55 - 0 .60 m etres). T he d egree t o w hich t hey p rotrude f rom t he w all v aries b ut t he a verage i s a bout 0 .12 m etres. M ost o f t he p ilasters r est o n t he f loor b ut t here a re s ome w hich b egin f rom w ithin t he w all a t ah eight o f a l ayer o r t wo f rom t he f loor ( s. f ig. 1 0). T he p ilasters i n t he S table-House, i n c ontrast t o t hose i n t he " Pool-House" a nd i n o ther S hivta d wellings, d o n ot e nd i n f lat, w ide c ornices w hich a re t rapezoidal i n s hape. T hese c ornices u sually i ndicate t he e nd o f t he p ilaster a nd t he s tart o f t he a rch ( 14). R ooms n o. 2 a nd n o. 3 o f t he d welling w ing w ere r oofed b y m eans o f t wo a rches w hile r ooms n o. 7 a nd n o. 8 , t he l onger o nes, w ere s panned b y t hree a rches. T he d istance b etween t he a xes o f t he a rches v aries f rom 0 .80 t o 1 .00 m etres a nd a llowed f or t he l aying o f f lat s tone s labs i n k eeping w ith t he r egular s ystem u sed i n a ll o f S hivta's d wellings

( 15).

T he s table s pace, b ecause o f i ts c learly l arge s ize a nd s pecial n ature, w as r oofed b y m eans o f t wo s ets o f p arallel a rches r esting o n f ive p illars. T hese d ivided t he s table h all i nto t wo r ooms: t he w ider o ne t o t he e ast, t he n arrower t o t he w est. T hese a rches, a s s tated, r ested, o n o ne s ide, u pon t he c entral p illars a nd, o n t he o ther, u pon t he p ilasters b uilt i nto t he w all ( s. f ig. 1 , 1, 1 2). T he s tones o f t he p illars,

p ilasters a nd t he a rches o f

t he s table a re

m uch m ore c arefully h ewn a nd d ressed t han t hose o f t he d welling w ing. T he d irection o f t he a rches i s a lways p arallel t o t he c ourtyard w all w hich b ounds t he r oom . T he p ilasters a re b uilt i nto b oth s ides o f t he w all i n p airs s o t hat a c ontinuous s ystem o f a rches i s c reated t hrough

t he

h orizontal

l ength o f t he b uilding,

a s ystem w hich

d issipates

t he

f orces a cting u pon t he a rches.

A rchitectural D etails A .

E ntranceways N o

l intels w ere p reserved a t

t he S table-House b ut

i t

i s r eason-

a ble t o a ssume t hat t he b uilders u sed l intels i n t he f orm o f a b eam o n w hich w ere o ccasionally c arved g eometric o r s tylized p atterns

( 16).

9 0

s mooth f loral

T he

d oorposts o f

t he t wo e ntrances

l eading t o

r ooms n o.

7

a nd

n o. 8 w ere p reserved i n s itu. T hey a re w ell c rafted a nd t heir s tones w ere c arefully h ewn a nd d ressed ( s. f ig. 8 , 1 6). A t t he b ottom, t he d oorposts b roaden i nto b ases w hich h ave a r egular t rapezoid f orm , b road a t t he b ase a nd n arrowing t oward t he t op. A t e ach e ntrance i s a p air o f s uch b ases w hich, i n a ddition t o t heir c areful c rafting, w ere d ecorated w ith s imple g eometric p atterns ( s. b elow , p . 9 2). N o d oorp osts w ere p reserved a t t he e ntrances t o t he r ooms ( no. 2 a nd n o. 3 ) i n t he n orthern d welling w ing. T he d oorposts a t t he w est e ntrance o f t he s table, t he u pper p art o f w hich h as b een u ncovered, s eem t o h ave a lso b een s imilarly w ell c rafted ( s. f ig. 1 4).

w ith

I t w ould s eem t hat a ll t he d welling w ing e ntrances w eree s imple h orizontal b eams w hereas t he p assageways i n t he

w ere a lso a rched l ike t he a rches o ver t he t roughs B oth t he d welling w ing a nd t he s table w ere w indows a nd, l ike t he o ther d wellings i n S hivta, r oom B .

( s.

f ig.

r oofed s table

1).

a pparently w ithout t he l ighting o f t he

w as v ia t he d oorways. T he F loorins

T he S table-House f looring h as b een p artially u ncovered o nly i n t he c ourtyard o f t he d welling w ing ( s. f ig. 1 7). I t i s o f c arefully h ewn s tone s labs. I t s eems t hat t he s table a nd t he r oom f looring w as n ot o f s tone s labs. C .

I nstallations

1 .

T he S taircase T he

s taircase i s

i n t he s outhwest c orner o f

t he c ourtyard o ppo-

s ite a s ection o f w all w hich s eparates t he t wo e ntrances f rom t he s treet i nto t he c ourtyard ( s. f ig. 1 , 6 , 8 ). T he l ower s ection o f t he s taircase i s v ery w ell p reserved. I t h as t wo p arallel p illars ( each a bout 0 .60 m etres t hick) b uilt c arefully o f w ell-hewn s tones ( s. f ig. 7 ). T he s tairs r ise b etween t he t wo p illars, f rom e ast t o w est, p aralleling t he s outh c ourtyard w all. F ive s tairs s till r emain i n s itu. T hey a re w ell-crafted s tone b eams. O ne m ay r easonably a ssume t hat t heir c ontinuation r ested o n a b arrel v ault s tretched f rom t he w estern p art o f t he s taircase t o t he w estern w all o f t he c ourtyard ( s. f ig. 5 ). A s econd b arrel v ault w ent f rom t he n orthwest c orner o f t he s taircase a nd t he n orth w all o f r oom n o. 8 . I f t his s uggested r econs truction i s c orrect, t hen w e h ave h ere a s taircase s haped a s a " gamma" ( r ) r ising f rom t he c ourtyard l evel t o t he s econd s torey w hich w as a bove r ooms

n o.

7 a nd

n o.

8 ( s.

f ig.

8 ).

I n t he c ourtyard, b etween t he n orthwest e dge o f t he s taircase a nd t he w estern c ourtyard w all, a n o pening w as d iscovered f or d rawing w ater f rom t he h ouse's c entral c istern. T he v ault b etween t he s tairc ase a nd t he w all o f t he c ourtyard m ade f or e asy a ccess t o t he c istern ( s. b elow , p aragraph 3 ). T his s taircase o ffers a s ophisticated, o riginal, a nd a ppropriate a rchitectural s olution t he l ike o f w hich h as n ot

y et

b een f ound i n S hivta o r t he o ther c ities o f t he

N egev.

I t

d iffers f rom t he N abatean s taircase-tower w e k now w ell, a s a t M amshit, f or e xample, w hich a re b uilt a round a c entral, r ectangular p ier ( s. f ig.

2 1)

( 17).

9 1

I t i s a lso u nlike t he s imple s taircase s cattered t hrough t he d wellings a t S hivta, w hich a re p rimarily a s eries o f s tairs

m any

r ising i n a n u nbroken d iagonal l ine a gainst a c ourtyard w all o n a n a ngled b ase o r a b arrel v ault ( s. f ig. 6 , p . 1 41). 2 .

a nd

s et

N iches

F ive s tone n iches h ave b een l ocated i n t he w alls o f S tableH ouse. T hree w ere f ound i n r oom n o. 7 , o ne i n r oom n o. 8 , a nd o ne m ore i n t he s outhern c ourtyard w all n ear t he s outh e ntrance ( s. f ig. 8 ). U nlike t hose i n t he o ther S hivta d wellings ( s. f or e xample t he l ovely n iches i n t he P ool-House), t he S table-House n iches a re s mall ( 0 .33 m etres w ide, 0 .40 m etres h igh, 0 .40 m etres d eep), b uilt o f s mall, r ough-hewn s tones a nd n ot o f s mooth, w ell-hewn s tone s labs. N or d o t hey h ave a ny h ollowed-out a reas t o i ndicate a rrangements f or c losing t hem o r g rooves i n t he s ides t o a ttest t o t he i nsertion o f s tone s helves 3 .

( 18).

T he C istern

I n t he s outhwest s ection o f t he c ourtyard, b etween t he s taircase a nd t he s ection o f t he w all s eparating t he t wo e ntrances w hich l ead f rom t he s treet t o t he c ourtyard, a r ound o pening w as f ound, 0 .83 m etres i n d iameter, u sed f or d rawing w ater f rom t he c entral c istern ( s. f ig. 1 , 1 7). T he c istern i tself h as n ot y et b een i nvestigated. O ne m ay r easonably a ssume t hat i t e xtends u nder t he s urface o f t he c ourtyard l ike t he c isterns i n m ost o f t he d wellings a t S hivta. S outh o f t his o pening, n ear t he c ourtyard 's s outhern w all, a l arge s tone v essel h as b een f ound, b owl-like, w ith a d iameter o f a bout 0 .70 m etres ( s. f ig. 1 7). T his w as p robably n ot i ts o riginal s ite; t here i s n o w ay o f k nowing t he p urpose i t

s erved n or i f

i t w as a t

a ll

r elated t o t he c istern. 4 .

A rchitectural D ecoration T he

S table-House,

l ike m ost o f

t he d wellings

i n S hivta,

i s p oor

i n a rchitectural d ecoration. O nly f our d ecorated d oorpost b ases h ave b een f ound a long w ith o ne c ornice w hich i ndicates t he e nd o f t he b uilt-in p ilaster a nd t he b eginning o f t he a rch. T his c ornice, o n t he n ortheast p ilaster i n r oom n o. 3 , i s u ndecorated.

r ooms

T he f our d oorpost b ases e mbellished t he e ntrance t o i n t he s outhern p art o f t he d welling w ing ( s. f ig. 8 ,

t he 1 6).

t wo O ne

m ay r easonably a ssume t hat t he c apitals o f t hese d oorposts, a s i n t he o ther d wellings a t S hivta, w ere s imilar i n f orm, d esign a nd d ecoration t o t heir b ases ( 19). T he d oorpost

b ases h ave t he r egu lar t rapezoid f orm - w ider

t he b ase a nd n arrower a t t he t op. T he d imensions o f a ll a lmost i dentical: t he w idth o f t he b ase i s 0 .33 m etres, p art

i s 0 .19 m etres,

a nd t he h eight

T he d ecorations,

i s 0 .37 m etres.

w hich a re p oorly p reserved,

t al b ands w ith s imple g eometric o rnament . 1

1

1

1

a t

f our a re t he u pper

1

9 2

c onsist o f h orizon-

T he S table-House i s u nique a mong t he o ther d wellings o f f irst a nd f oremost i n t he s table w hich w as i ntegrated i nto t he t ure

a nd w hich f unctioned t here

l ing w ing .

T hus

f ar,

f or a l ong t ime a long w ith t he

n o o ther s table h as b een d iscovered a t

S hivta s trucd welS hivta.

A nother u nique s tructure i s t he s taircase w hich s tands i n t he s outhw est c orner o f t he c ourtyard a nd w hich i s s haped a s a " gamma". A s w e h ave e mphasized, n o p arallel t o i t h as y et b een f ound i n S hivta o r t he o ther N egev c ities. T he S table-House p lan a s p resented h ere u ndoubtedly r eflects t he l ast s tage i n t he l ong p rocess, o ver t he y ears, o f s tructural c hanges a nd a dditions t o w hich t he b uilding w as s ubject, a nd o nly e xcavation o f t he S table H ouse i n i ts e ntirety - a nd e specially o f t he n ortheast c orner w hich i s c overed w ith r ubble - w ill c larify t he p urpose o f t his a rea. L ogic d ictates t hat t he s table o riginally e xtended n orthward b eyond t he w all w hich c loses i t o ff t oday. T he a rea o f t he h ouse's n ortheast c orner a s w e h ave r econstructed i t o n t he b asis o f a n o nt he-spot s tudy ( s. f ig. 1 ) i s s imilar t o t hat o f t he s table, a nd i t w ould s eem t hat t here, a s w ell, t here w as r oom f or f our o r f ive t roughs. I f, i n f act, o ur s upposition i s c orrect, t he S hivta s table i s v ery m uch l ike t he B uilding V s table a t M amshit i n i ts n umber o f t roughs a nd i ts a rea ( s. f ig. 1 1, 1 3, 1 9). A t a c ertain s tage i n i ts e xistence, t he s table's a rea w as r educed b y a bout h alf a nd w as p artit ioned w alls.

o ff f rom b oth t he d welling a nd s table a reas b y

s trong,

s olid

T he c onstruction o f t he S table-House i s n ot u niform - a p henom enon v ery f amiliar t o u s f rom a lmost a ll t he d wellings i n S hivta b ut i t i s m ost s trongly e vident i n t he S table-House. S pecific i nstall ations a nd s ome s ections o f w all s uch a s t he s taircase a nd t he s outhern w all o f t he c ourtyard a re w ell b uilt, e specially t he d oorp osts o f t he e ntrances t o r ooms n o. 7a nd n o. 8 . W orthy o f n ote i s t he f act t hat t he s outhern w all h as a r andom m ixture o f h ewn s tones a longside s maller, r oughly-hewn s tones ( s. p ilasters a nd a rches a nd s et

s tones

i n r ooms

i n c ontrast

t he w ork i s m uch

n o.

7 a nd

n o.

t o t hose i n r ooms

l arge, w ell f ig. 8 ). T he

8 a re o f c arefully h ewn n o.

2a nd

n o.

3 w here

l ess c areful.

F urthermore, t he w alls o f r ooms n o. 2 a nd n o. 3 a re b uilt w ith l arge b ut a lso r ough-hewn s tones, w hereas t hose o f r ooms n o. 7 a nd n o. 8 a re o f s mall g ravel a nd r oughly-hewn s tones m ixed t ogether. I t s eems a s i f t wo g roups o f b uilders w ere i nvolved i n e recting t he s outhern a nd n orthern s ections o f t he d welling w ing ( s. f ig. 8 , 9 ). I n s pite o f t he t emptation c onclusions, i t s eems t o u s t hat t he S table-House w ith a ll o f i ts d raw c hronologica l c onclusions a nd

t o a ttempt t o d raw c hronological l acking t he c omplete e xcavation o f s ections, i t w ould b e c areless t o d etermine t hat a ny s ection i s o lder

t han a ny o ther s ection. T his a pplies a s w ell t o t he s table. A s w e h ave e mphasized, t he s table, l ike t he d welling w ing, h as a lso u nderg one

many c hanges o ver t he y ears.

B ut

f or a ll

o f . t hat,

a nd d espite

t he d ifferences i n t he t ype o f c onstruction a nd t he k inds o f s tone, i t s eems t o u s t hat t he S table-House a s w e k now i t t oday w ith i ts t wo f unctional s ections - t he d welling w ing a nd t he s table - d id f unction

9 3

a s a s ingle o rganic u nit f or a p eriod o f t ime. B ased u pon w hat w e h ave l earned o f t he h ouse p lan, t he n ature a nd m ethod o f i ts c onstruct ion, i ts i nstallations a nd d ecorations - a nd b ased u pon i ts c omparis on t o t he o ther d wellings a t S hivta a nd t he o ther N egev c ities - i t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he S table-House w as e rected i n t he 4 th c entury C .E. a nd f unctioned i n i ts o riginal p urpose a s a d welling a nd s table a t l east u ntil t he 5 th c entury a nd p erhaps e ven l ater. M any i nvestigators h ave t aken n ote o f t he c ombination o f f actors w hich c haracterize t he p rivate b uilding i n t he N egev c ities o f t he B yzantine p eriod: t he l ack o f u nity, t he b uilding o f w alls i n s traight s egments b ut n ot s o a s t o f orm a c ontinuous s traight l ine, t he u se o f g ravel a nd h ewn s tones s ide b y s ide. W hoever t ours A vdat, N itzana, R ehovot o r S hivta w ill e asily d iscern t his. I n l ight o f w hat h as b een s aid, t he s uperior a nd p ainstaking n ature o f t he N abatean c onstruction a s w e k now i t o r B uildings

I I,

V ,

a t M amshit

i n s tructures

a nd X II a ttributed,

N abatean p eriod ( end o f i s o utstanding. H ence, C .E., a rchitecture i n

l ike " the

a s m entioned,

P alace"

t o t he l ater

t he i st t o m iddle o f t he 2 nd c enturies C .E.), f rom t hen u ntil t he m iddle o f t he 4 th c entury t he N egev l ost t he N abatean c haracter s o

s trongly f elt i n t he a forementioned b uildings. D id t he c ultural d ecline o f t he N abateans a nd t he p rogressive b lurring o f t heir n ational c haracteristics s uch a s r eligion, l anguage a nd s cript r eally a lso f ind e xpression i n a rchitecture? T here i s n o d oubt t hat t he N abateans r emained a d ominant f actor i n t he p opulation o f t he N egev u ntil t he A rab c onquest, t estimony t o w hich a re t he N abatean n ames a ppearing i n t he d ocuments a nd i nscriptions f ound a t v arious N egev s ites; b ut t he p rogressive b lurring o f t heir c ultural c haracteristics a nd t he l oss o f t heir n ational, r eligious, l inguistic i dentity, o n t he o ne h and, a nd t he e migration f rom t he n orth, o n t he o ther, f inally b rought a bout t he t otal d isappearance o f t he N abateans a s a s pecial c ultural f actor. T his p rocess, a s m entioned, i s e specially f elt i n t he s pheres o f r eligion a nd l anguage b ut i t s eems t hat i n a rchitecture a s w ell o ne c an p oint t o t he b lurring a nd d ecline o f t he c learly N abatean

i ngredients

r ectangu lar p ier w hich

s uch a s t he s taircase b uilt a round

a

i s

a nd p rivate

s o w idespread i n b oth t he s acral

c entral,

N abatean a rchitecture, t he N abatean c apital a nd t he N abatean s toneh ewing - a ll o f w hich d isappear i n t he c ourse o f t he 3 rd a nd 4 th c enturies s o t hat i n t he B yzantine a rchitecture a t S hivta ( from t he 4 th t o 7 th c enturies), w e w ill b e h ard p ut t o f ind e lements w hich w e c an u nhesitantly p oint

t o a s a N abatean h eritage.

T he s table, w hich w e h ave a nalyzed a t l ength, a t t he e dge o f t he a ncient a rea o f S hivta ( s. h ere, n ote 1 ), a nd w hich h as m any l ines o f s imilarity t o t he N abatean s tables a t M amshit, m ay p erhaps b e t he p roof t hat t he N abatean c ultural h eritage, p recisely i n t he a rchitect ural r ealm, c ontinued a t S hivta a t l east u ntil t he 4 th c entury w hen t he s table w as b uilt.

A s w e h ave s tressed,

i n t his

i nstance w e d o n ot

h ave t he u se o f e arlier b uilding m aterials i n a l ater s tructure, a s w e h ave i n t he i ntegration o f N abatean e lements i n t he l ater R oman a nd B yzantine c onstruction o f t he A cropolis a t A vdat, b ut a n o riginal s tructure w hich b ears t he c lear i mprint o f a n a ncient t radition.

9 4

N OTES 1 .

S hivta's

c ity p lan a nd

i vely a nalyzed b y

f unctional

t his a uthor,

P lan a nd A rchitecture o f J erusalem, I I, 2 .

p p.

a .

1 981

1 9-37,

T he

t he

c omplex

" Stable

w hich h ave n ot y et a erial

p hoto o n

A rchaeological A . b . c .

c h. T he

I ,

( the

i n

" insula")

H ouse" a nd

b een e xcavated,

t he N egev",

i n w hich

s ee B . A erial

B rimer, P hotos

4 .

I bid.

5 .

I t o f

p .

6 5,

t he

" Pool f ound, i n

t he

t he N egev",

S hivta,

t he

f irst

B yzantine

s ee A .

i n

S egal,

d welling w hich w as

I II,

p p.

i bid.

c h.

9 -17.

i bid.

S egal,

A riel,

i bid.

" Factors

o f

s urveyed a nd p ublished b y t he a uthor.

A .

s .

w ere d iscerned b y s tudying a n

a 1 :1000 s cale,

" Pool-House" w as

c h.

e xtens-

" Shivta - T he

t wo o ther b uildings a re

I nterpretation o f

p p.

b een

" Shivta"),

s tudied,

3 .

p p.

f ig.

S ee:

A .

S egal,

3 6-55. 2 1-13,

3 ,

f ig.

1 6,

1 7.

4 .

c ould b e t hat t he s table's e xistence e xplains t he a rrangement t he t wo e ntrances n ear o ne a nother. T hough t here w as a n

e ntranceway p ossible t o

l eading o ut

t hat

e nter

o f

t he s table

c ourtyard a nd

W e h ave

t hus o f

C .

P EF Q St.

" S'baita",

S table-House

w as

t o g o

f ar n ot

w ith a n a rrangement B aly,

i n

i ts e ast w all,

t he w estern e ntrance o f t he

t he

s treet.

7 .

S egal,

S egal, " Shivta", p p. 6 1-67, f ig. 3 , 4 . O n t he h istory o f t he i nvestigation o f

i bid.

6 .

A .

h ave

S egal,

1 4-17.

b uilding

H ouse",

A .

a B yzantine C ity

( henceforth:

f ig.

d ivisions

s ee:

t he

c ourtyard

l ike

( 1935), a nd

t hat p .

o f

t he

i s u sed

t o

f ound a nother d welling a t

e ntrances

s tudied

f rom

i t

s table w as a lso

t he

S hivta

S table-House.

1 7.

s urveyed

b y

s tudents

o f

t he

A rchaeology D epartment, B en G urion U niversity o f t he N egev, B eer S heva, a s p art o f t he 1 980/81 a cademic y ear s eminar: " The N egev C ities i n t he B yzantine P eriod" c onducted b y t his a uthor. T he S table-House p lan w as d rawn u p b y P eter L upan, a n A rchaeology D epartment s urveyor. T on, a d raughtsman i n

T he c ross-sections w ere p repared b y B atya t he A rchaeology D epartment. P articipating

i n t he s urveying, e xcavation a nd l imited i nvestigation o f t he S table-House w ere S ara W asserman, D orit K irschner, K ochava A lma( pas,

O phra K atz,

L iora R ogatki,

O phra

S hurkin,

D avid A sael,

D avid B inenfeld, M uhamad H alaila a nd Y ehuda G oldstein w ho a lso w as t he p hotographer. A ll t he a ccompanying p hotographs a re h is w ork. 8 .

T he

t wo

s tables a t

p hotographs g eneral

M amshit h ave n ot

y et

b een p ublished b ut

t heir

a nd s chematic p lans w ere p ublished a long w ith

c omments

i n a n umber o f

p ublications,

s ee:

A .

s ome N egev,

" The F lourishing o f M amshit i n t he L ater N abatean P eriod", M ada3 , 1 971, p p. 1 42-154, f ig. 7 , 8 , 1 1, 1 4 ( Hebrew). A . N egev, " The

N abateans

( editors),

" The

i n

t he

L and o f

M inistry o f D efence,

N egev",

i n

E .

S hmueli,

t he N egev - M an a nd D esert"

1 979,

p p.

I n c onversation w ith P rof.

A .

9 5

2 45-260, N egev,

f ig. I w as

1 8,

2 5,

Y .

G radus

( Hebrew), 2 9,

3 3.

i nformed t hat

t wo

m ore s tables h ave r ecently b een d iscovered a t A vdat: o ne, i n t he " Roman Q uarter"; t he s econd, h owever, i s o n t he n orthern s lopes o f " Acropolis H ill". N either h ave y et b een e xcavated. T he e xcavations c arried o ut i n t he s ummer o f 1 979 a t R ehovot i n t he N egev, u nder t he l eadership o f D r. Y oram T zafrir, r evealed a l arge b uilding w hose s ides w ere a bout 3 0 m etres l ong i n s ection C . I n t he n orthwest w ing o f t he b uilding, d esignated t he " Khan", a h all w as u ncovered w hich c ontained t wo r ows o f s tone t roughs b etween p illars t hat h ad b een r oofed w ith a rches, s ee: Y . T zafrir, " Rehovot i n t he N egev - F our S easons o f E xcavat ions", Q admoniot 4 ( 48), 1 980, p p. 1 24-132 ( Hebrew). M any s tables w ere d iscovered i n S yria a nd H ourran b y i nvestigat ors o f t he r egion a t t he e nd o f t he n ineteenth a nd t he b eginn ing o f t he t wentieth c enturies. T he A merican i nvestigator, B utler, p oints o ut t hat m any d wellings h ave b een f ound w ith s tables b uilt i n s eparate b uildings n ear t he c ourtyard o r i n t he g round f loor o f t he d welling i tself, s ee: H .C. B utler, " Archit ecture a nd O ther A rts", N ew Y ork, 1 903, p . 1 25. H ere a re e xamples o f s tables d iscovered b y B utler a cross S yria, s ome o f t hem d ated. 1 .

A s table i ntegrated i nto a l arge d welling, d iscovered a t K far O djeh, s ee: H .C. B utler, P rinceton U niversity A rchaeol ogical E xpedition t o S yria ( P.U.A.E.S.), D iv. I I, A rchitect ure, S ec. B N orthern S yria, L eyden, 1 920, p p. 6 7-68, F ig. 7 0

2 .

( s.

f ig.

2 2).

A t a s ite c alled D ar K ita a s table w as d iscovered w hich o ccupies t he g round f loor o f a b uilding w hich s erved a s a n i nn,

s ee:

H .C.

B utler,

o p.

b uilding i s d ated 4 36 C .E. 3 .

c it., f ig.

p .

1 89,

f ig.

1 95.

T he

2 3).

A s table i ntegrated i nto a b uilding w hich s erved a s a d well ing a nd s tore w as d iscovered a t B atuta a nd i s a scribed t o 3 63 C .E., s ee: H .C. B utler, o p. c it., p 3 32, f ig. 3 78 ( s. f ig.

4 .

( s.

2 4).

A nother s table w as d iscovered b y M . D e V ogue, w hich w e b ring h ere n ot o nly f or i ts l ovely i llustration b ut f or i ts s pecial r oofing s ystem : i nstead a rches, l arge b locks o f m onolithic,

b asalt

s tone w ere u sed.

T his

s table

i s a ttri-

b uted t o t he 4 th c entury C .E., s ee: M . D e V ogue, W . W addingt on, L a S yrie C entrale, P aris, 1 865, V ol. I , p . 1 23, V ol. I I, 9 .

F or

a

p l.

1 00

( s.

f ig.

2 5).

c omprehensive s urvey o f

N abatean

c hronology,

N egev, " The B eginnings o f t he N abatean K ingdom", i n M . ( editor), " Between H ermon a nd S inai, a M emorial t o J erusalem , 1 0.

1 977,

p p.

1 43-162

s ee:

A .

B roshi A mnon",

( Hebrew).

O n t he e conomic a ctivity o f t he N abateans, s ee: P .C. T he N abateans - T heir H istory, C ulture a nd A rchaeology,

H ammond, G othen-

b urg, 1 973, p p. 6 5-74. A . N egev , " The N abateans a nd t he P rovincia A rabia", i n: A ufstieg u nd N iedergang d er R omischen W elt, I I ( 8), B erlin 1 977, p p. 6 65, 6 79-684.

9 6

1.

S ee n ote 8 .

1 2.

A ll t he c eramic m aterial f ound i n t he t roughs a nd o n t he f loor, w hich w as u ncovered i n a n arrow s trip a long t he r ow o f p illars o n i ts e ast s ide, b elongs t o t he 4 th a nd 5 th c enturies C .E. T he m aterial w as e xamined b y P rofessors A . N egev a nd I t hank t hem b oth f or a greeing t o e xamine o ur e xcavation b rought t o l ight a nd t o v erify A c oin o f E mperor A rcadius ( 395-408), m inted

a nd B .L. J ohnson t he c eramics w hich t he d ating. i n A lexandria, w as

a lso f ound. I t w as c leaned a nd i dentified b y M . R eshef, a m ember o f K ibbutz B et A lpha, f or w hich w e t hank h im. T he c eramic a nd n umismatic f inds v erify t hat t he s table s till f unctioned i n i ts o riginal

p urpose

i n t he 4 th a nd 5 th c enturies.

1 3.

T his c onstruction s ystem i s w idespread i n t he m any d wellings a t S hivta, s ee: A . S egal, o p. c it., p . 4 8, f ig. 3 6.

1 4 .

T hese c ornices a re f ound f or t he m ost p art i n a ll t he d wellings a t S hivta a nd t he o ther N egev c ities, a nd t heir a bsence a lmost c ompletely h ere i s m ost s urprising. T he s outheast p ilaster i n r oom 3 i s t he o nly o ne i n t he e ntire S table-House w hich h as t he c ornice w hich i s s o c ommon i n t he o ther h ouses a t S hivta.

1 5.

F or t he s pread o f t he s ystem o f r oofing b y s etting s tone s labs o n s ets o f a rches a t S hivta, i n t he o ther N egev c ities, i n P alestine, S yria a nd A rabia, s ee: A . S egal, o p. c it., p . 5 4 ( s. i bid. n ote 1 0).

1 6.

A c omplete c atalogue o f t he d ecorative a rchitectural e lements a t S hivta i s i n t he f inal s tages o f p reparation a nd w ill b e p ubl ished b y t he a uthor i n a s eparate m onograph.

1 7.

A .

N egev,

I srael 1 8.

A .

1 9.

S ee

X I,

S egal, n ote

" The S taircase T ower p p. o p.

1 97-207 c it.,

p .

i n N abatean A rchitecture",

( Hebrew). 5 0,

f ig.

1 6.

9 7

4 1, 4 2.

E retz

1 01 S table-House,

10 2

11 1 1 1 1 M t l e 1 le .A t e llj 4. 0 1 1 04

a 1l l

1

NM A LGA : 1 93 111

4 . .. .

f I We e ; em e n e z

0

MviI n e

* I li r g is P i f l e %e e N t l i ge t i 9 14 1 1 6 •0 -4g A

l i

Neill

s o e s l ie P A WN i m e g e t e r e .I e d m i m a r i ir . bf r e ll ie p s ' ,

U h E ! el l' Ig s ingr i M

d B.

i i s zo i g..u

1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 13 1 1 1 ‘ M I

1 03

c . n •

10 7 1

S table-House,

c ross-section C -C

0 i n um i

5 lm a n 1 A l

l ibi l V TA T I I

I TA IM IL IE

0 AS EGAL

F ig.

8 .

S hivta,

S table—House,

p artial

1 05

i sometric

r econstruction

HO IJ I N

v iew f rom

e astward

4 . )

1 06

s taircase

v iew s outhwestward

( ! )

10 7

C I )

a ) $ . 4

" 0 ( . ) 3 . 4 • , 1 c 1 3 C O

v iew s outhwestward t o t he

0 U

c o

1 08

• 0 " 0

r • z 0

E

0

C I ) 4 — J ' 4 4 0

o N 4 c u ( f ) c . )

E.

1 . ) 0 . 0 0 s . , C C c t l ( 1 ) 4 . )

•

0 ( 1

0

$ . 4 C Z .0

v iew f rom t he

" C )

•

4 ) 0

0

V )

•

E c l a o g o

z C i 2 1 )

Ö J r e )

z c o— 4 4 , o o • c 3 z a . ) › , 1 3 4 C . / 2

E 0 0

0 4 1

•

o

" c e

0 4 t

> 4 1 4 ) * ri 4 1 0 C O Z : C l ) 4 -, 0-

C T, b . 0

1

v iew e astward

f rom r oom

11I

ö l )

1

i nto

t he

r " )

•

1 13 t he c rude c onstruction o f

c onstruction o f

v iew ,s outheastward

t o

b eneath t he

r • z +

1 15 t he n orthernmost

1 16

e ntrances

t o

r ooms

t he b ases

F ig.

1 7.

S hivta, S table—House, t he c istern o pening a nd t he s tone v essel i n t he s outhwest c orner o f t he c ourtyard

1 17

1 18

n orthward

1 19

1 20

N ote

t he

a l ium 7K

MI M I

F ig.

2 1.

O M

M amshit ( Kurnub), B uilding V , t he N abatean s taircase b uilt a round a r ectangular p ier

1 21

F ig.

2 2.

S table

i ntegrated

i *. _ , J , . I .r D L_ _,

1 ,

'

i nto d welling.

1 1 1

K far O djeh,

l i tl l i ll H

i l i t I I l i' I I

"

I i l

—

I

N orth S yria

:

I

•

I M •

4 7

"

-: 7 z

LAD K iTA .

L A MIZ IX I MM Ilä rtMIZZI 9 JM I EF IL« ININ M IS

•

I N N .P E3TO P E D• 2 84

DA 1 1 :136AD .

I NSC • 1079 6 .8o

F ig.

2 3.

S table

o n g round

f loor o f

l arge

S yria

1 22

h ostelry,

K far D ar K ita,

N orth

‘

3AT

k \

4 ß

TA

5HOP5 DATE 3G3 AD

F ig.

2 4.

S table

i ntegrated

i nto

t ioned a s d welling a nd

s tructure w hich s tore,

K far B atuta,

N orth S yria

F ig.

2 5.

S table

a t D eir-Seta,

1 23

f unc-

N orth S yria

C HAPTER V T HE

N ORTH

H OUSE

1 25

A .

I ntroduction N orth

t he

H ouse i s

i n t he n orthern c orner o f

N orth C hurch c ompound

d wellings

w hich

d esignated

f ig.

1 )

S hivta,

( 1).

I t

c onstitute C omplex B ( insula

I I),

b y t he C olt

( see

E xpedition ( 2).

I t

s outhwest

i s o ne o f a s

o f

t hree

t his a rea

w as

i s t he b est p reserved

o f

t he t hree a nd f or t hat r eason w as s elected a s a s ubject o f s tudy a nd e xploration f or t he B en-Gurion U niversity o f t he N egev's A rchaeology D epartment B .

S eminar o n

" Negev C ities

i n t he B yzantine P eriod"

( 3).

R esearch H istory N orth H ouse w as

d uring i ts

f irst

e xcavated b y t he C olt

s eason a t

S hivta

( winter

E xpedition,

1 933/34)

i t w ould s eem,

( 4).

C omplex B h as

b een p resented o n t he c ontour m ap o f t he c ity a s i t w as p repared b y t he E xpedition's s urveyor. H owever, t he p lans o f t he h ouses w ithin t he c omplex, i ncluding t he p lan o f N orth H ouse, w ere n ever d rawn ( 5). A ll

t hree h ouses w ere e xcavated,

b ut

s ince N orth H ouse w as e specially

w ell p reserved, w e c hose t o s urvey a nd d raw i ts p lan f irst. T he m easurements w ere d one a t t he s ite b y t he S eminar s tudents a s a s taff, s upervised b y t he a uthor a nd t he A rchaeology D epartment's S urveyor, P . L upan ( 6). C .

C omplex B ( Insula T he

l ies

u niqueness o f

I I): t his r esidential

i n i ts c areful p lanning.

s traight

s treet

t he w est,

s ixty m etres

a rea

i n t he n orth o f

l ong,

b y a nother s traight,

o f a u niform 4 m etre w idth,

u niformly w ide s treet.

t he c omplex b orders o n t he p aved N orth S quare. i s t he c ity's b order, f orm

a c ontinuous,

t ion. w as

S quare

f ig.

1 )

I ts n orthern b oundary h ouses

l ine i n a g enerally n ortheasterly d irec-

i n S hivta's e xistence, a n e ncroachment

a l arge-sized b uilding

i n t he

d irection

o f

N orth

( 7).

T he h ouses c omprising C omplex B a re n ot i dentical i n p lan o r i n Y et, i t i s c learly e vident t hat t hey w ere b uilt d uring t he s ame

s ize.

s pan o f

t ime,

s ince t heir p lan,

t heir d ecoration, h and

d iagonal

i n t he e ast,

( see

a nd o n

T o t he e ast,

s o t hat t he n orthern w alls o f t he t hree

A t a l ater s tage a dded

S hivta

C omplex B i s b ounded o n t he s outh b y a

t he m ethod o f

a re v ery s imilar.

I t

t heir c onstruction,

s eems a s

a nd

i f a s ingle g uiding

s upervised t heir p lanning a nd c onstruction. B etween

N orth H ouse a nd i ts n eighbour t o

t he w est,

t here

i s

a

p aved, r ectangular p laza ( 12.00 x 2 0.00 m etres i n s ize) w hich o pens s outhward t o t he s treet a nd n orthward t o t he o utside o f t he c ity ( see f ig.

1 ).

A t

t he n orthwest c orner o f

f or d rawing w ater f rom a c istern. t he l argest,

w ith t he m ost

t he p aved p laza,

t he p laza,

c omplicated p lan.

t aken t ogether,

a n o pening w as

f ound

T he w estern h ouse o f t he c omplex T he

t hree h ouses

f orm a g eometric p attern

o f a t rapezoid w hose s traight b ase

i s

S outh S treet

( see

i n t he

f ig.

1 ).

i s

p lus s hape I t

i s b ounded o n t he w est a nd e ast b y p arallel l ines, w hile o n t he n orth, t here i s a s traight l ine r unning d iagonally f rom n orthwest t o s outhe ast. t rarily l ots. z oidal s treet.

O bviously, a nd

t he

b oundaries

t he b uilders o f

T herefore, c ontour.

o f t he c omplex . w ere s et

t he h ouses w ere

e ach o f t he t hree h ouses

g iven

c learly

a rbid efined

i n t he c omplex h as a t rape-

E ach h as o ne e ntranceway o pening

s outhward o nto t he

T here w as n o c onnection b etween t he h ouses a nd e ach

1 27

i n

c onsti-

t uted a c losed, D .

t otally i ndependent u nit.

D escription o f t he H ouse: N orth H ouse i s a d welling w ith a c entral

c ourtyard,

t hree r ooms,

a v estibule a nd a n a dditional r oom w hose p urpose i s n ot a dequately k nown t o u s ( see f ig. 1 , 2 ). T he h ouse i s t rapezoidal i n s hape. I ts s outhern f acade, t hat f acing t he s treet, i s t he e ntrance f acade, 1 2 m etres w ide. t he l ongest:

T he h ouse's w est w all, 1 9 m etres i n l ength.

b ordering o n t he p aved p laza, i s T he p arallel e ast w all, t he w all

i n c ommon w ith t he n eighbouring h ouse, i s 2m etres s horter: 1 7 m etres l ong. T he d iagonal, n orth w all i s 1 2.80 m etres i n l ength ( 8). T he h ouse i s b uilt e ntirely o f l imestone. I ts p lan i s b ased o n s quare, r ight-angled s paces b ut i s c arried o ut r ather l oosely s o t hat, t ruth t o t ell, n o r oom i s e xactly s quare.

o f

T he l evel t he s treet.

o f t he W est H ouse c ourtyard i s 0 .60 m etres b elow t hat T herefore, u pon e ntering t he h ouse f rom S outh S treet,

t hrough i ts o nly e ntrance ( 0.90 m etres w ide, a s m entioned), o ne d esc ends t wo s tone s teps t o t he v estibule ( see f ig. 2 , 3 ; r oom 1 01, m easuring 3 .40 x 5 .50 m etres). T he v estibule i s r oofed b y t wo a rches. I n t he r oom's n orth w all, w est o f t he e xit t o t he c ourtyard, t here i s a r ectangular w indow t hrough w hich t he c ourtyard i s v isible ( see f ig. 2 , 5 , 6 ). T o g o f rom t he v estibule t o t he c ourtyard, o ne m ust g o u p o ne s tair, c ross t he t hreshold o f t he e ntranceway, a nd t hen g o d own o ne s tair t o t he c ourtyard l evel. T he c ourtyard i s r ectangular ( see i llus 2 , 4 ; r oom 1 02, 5 :50 x 9 .00 m etres l arge) w ith t wo s ections c learly d iscernible: t he m ain s outhern s ection ( 5.50 x 7 .00 m etres), a nd t he n orthern o ne, w hich i s r oofed b y o ne a rch

( 1.80 x 5 .50 m etres)

( see f ig.

2 ,

4 ).

T here i s a s taircase a ttached t o t he s outh w all.

S even

s tairs

h ave r emained i n s itu, r ising a t a 4 5-degree a ngle f rom e ast t o w est ( see f ig. 6 ). T he s taircase r ests o n a b arrel v ault w hich w as p lugged w ith s tones, a pparently a fter t he v ault i tself h ad b egun t o c rumble. T he w indow , w hich h ad o riginally b een p ierced t hrough b eneath t he v ault t o a llow f or v isual c ontact b etween t he v estibule a nd t he c ourty ard, w as a lso s ealed u p w hen t hat w as N ear w all,

t he

d one.

s outhwest c orner o f t he c ourtyard,

a n a rched n iche w as b uilt

( see f ig.

2 ,

i n

i ts

s outhern

7 ).

T here i s n o w ay o f k nowing w hether t he c ourtyard h ad b een p aved . I t i s r easonab le t o a ssume t hat i t, i n f act, m ost l ikely w as, s ince a n o riginal s egment o f p aving w as p und i n o ne o f t he r ooms ( no. 1 03). I t i s t herefore d ifficult t o s uppose t hat t he c ourtyard w ould h ave r em ained u npaved i f t he r ooms w ere p aved ( see i llus, d welling w as

t hat w e h ave t hus

f ound t o h ave b een p aved

f ar i nvestigated a t

2 ,

S hivta,

1 3).

I n e very

t he c ourtyard

( 9).

T here i s a t iny r oom b uilt i n t he m idd le o f t he c ourtyard 's e ast w all, o pening w estward i nto t he c ourtyard ( see f ig. 2 , 4 , 8 , 9 ; m easur ing 0 .60 x 2 .00 m etres).

T he w alls o f

1 28

t his

t iny r oom a re b uilt

o f

r ough s tones, c rudely d ressed, s im ilar i n c onstruction m ethod t o t he o ther w alls o f t he h ouse e xcept t hat t hey a re t hinner ( 0.40 m etres a s a gainst a n a verage o f 0 .70 m etres). A s mall n iche w as c arved o ut o f t he n orthern w all ( see f ig. 2 ). W e h ave n o c ompelling s uggestion a bout t he s upposed p urpose o f t his v ery s mall r oom . B ecause o f i ts c entral l ocation, i n t he m iddle o f t he e astern w all o f t he c ourtyard ( like t he a pses o f t he c hurch w hich a lways f ace e ast), a r id b ecause o f t he h ouse's p roximity t o t he N orth C hurch l ocality, t here i s a g reat t emptation t o s ee t his r oom a s a s ort o f s mall, p rivate c hapel. O f c ourse, t his i s p ure s urmise. T he f act t hat t his t iny r oom i s a djac ent t o t he r oofed a rea, t he l ove liest p art o f t he c ourtyard, n ear t he s tone t hreshold ( see f ig. 2 , 4 , 8 ), i t s eems t o u s, t ends t o s trengt hen o ur t heory . B etween t he t iny r oom's n orth w all a nd t he e ast w all o f r oom n o. 1 04, t here i s a t hreshold ( 0.40 m etres i n h eight) b uilt o f l ovely h ewn s tones. I ts w idth i s 0 .60 m etres. T he c ourtyard 's l evel n orth o f t he t hreshold i s 0 .20 m etres h igher t han t hat s outh o f i t ( see f ig. 2 ,

3 ,

4 ,

8 ).

T he

r ooms

i n t he h ouse 's w est w ing a re v ery s imilar

i n

t heir

d imensions, d esign a nd c onstruction. E ach r oom i s r oofed b y t hree a rches r ising f rom p ilsters a ttached t o t he w all ( see f ig. 2 , 3 , 1 0). T he a verage d istance b etween t he a xes o f t he a rches i s a bout 1 .20 m etres. T he a rches a re a ligned p arallel t o t he w all o f t he r oom b ordering t he c ourtyard. T he p ilasters a re a ttached a t b oth s ides o f t he w all i n p airs, s o t hat a c ontinuous r ow o f a rches i s f ormed a long t he e ntire

l ength o f t he h ouse's w est w all

( see f ig.

2 ,

1).

W hen s uch a c ontinuous s eries o f a rches c ould n ot b e s et u p a s i n t he w est w ing, o ther s olutions w ere a dopted, a s d escribed a bove. I n t he v estibule, f or e xample ( see f ig. 2 , r oom n o. 1 01), t he r oom 's w estern w all w as t hickened ( it i s a lmost 1 ,00 m etre t hick a s a gainst a t hickness o f 0 .70 m etres f or t he h ouse's o ther r ooms), i n o rder t o o ffset t he h orizontal f orces a cting u pon t he t wo a rches t here. I n r oom n o. 1 06, o n t he o ther h and, o nly t he t wo p ilasters u pon w hich t he a rch r ested w ere t hickened

( see f ig.

2 )

( 10).

T he w estern w all o f

t he c ourtyard h as t hree e ntranceways

o ne,

t o r oom

a s econd,

r oom

n o.105.

n o.

1 03;

t o r oom

n o.

1 04;

i n

i t:

a nd a nother,

t o

I n t he c ourtyard 's n orth w all, t here i s y et a nother e ntrance, l eading t o r oom n o. 1 06 ( 2.40 x 5 .60 m etres i n s ize). T his l ateral r oom c ould a lso b e e ntered f rom r oom n o. 1 05 o f t he h ouse's w est w ing ( see

f ig.

2 ).

T he

d imensions a nd

l ocation o f r oom

n o.

1 06 a re v ery

u nusual

w hen c ompared t o t he o ther r ooms i n t he h ouse a nd t he n umber o f i ts e ntrances i s a lso u nique. M ost o f t he r ooms i n B yzantine d wellings h ave o nly o ne e ntrance a nd i t o pens o nto t he c ourtyard. T he r ooms g enerally a re s quare o r t end t o t he s quare. T his r oom i s n arrow , l ong, a nd c an b e e ntered b oth f rom t he c ourtyard a nd o ne o f t he r ooms i n

t he

w est

w ing o f

t he h ouse.

I n t he a bsence

o f

a rchaeological

i nformation, i t i s h ard t o g uess w hat t his r oom 's p urpose w as. m etres f rom t he s outh w all o f r oom n o. 1 06, a nd p arallel t o i t, i s a n a rch .

1 .40 t here

T his l one a rch r ests u pon a p ilaster a ffixed t o t he e ast

1 29

s ide o f t he c ourtyard w all a nd u pon a c orbel w hich w as i ntegrated i nto t he f acade o f t he w all s eparating r ooms n o. 1 04 a nd n o. 1 05 o n t he w est s ide ( see f ig. 2 , 4 , 1 9) ( 11). T his a rch b ore r oofing, s o t hat a t t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 1 06 a p leasant, s haded v estibule w as c reated ( see f ig. 2 , 4 ). S uch a s pecial a rrangement h ints a t t he c entral s tatus o f r oom n o. 1 06 w hich m ay h ave s erved a s a r oom f or g uests. T he u se o f a h orizontal s upport i s v ery c ommon i n R oman a nd B yzantine a rchitecture a nd e ven i n l ater p eriods, b ut i t i s n ot f ound a t a ll i n S hivta o r t he o ther N egav c ities ( 12). T he r ole o f a h orizontal s upport s imply i s t o r educe t he d istance b etween t he w alls s o t hat s horter b eams ( of w ood o r s tone, a s a vailable) c ould b e u sed f or t he r oofing.

W hen t here i s a n a rch,

t he h orizontal

s upport

i s

t o

l imit i ts o pening a nd d o a way w ith t he p ilaster w hich s teals m uch s pace. I n t his w ay, t he w eight o f t he r oofing i s t ransferred v ia t he a rch t o t he h orizontal s upport w hich, i n t urn, t ransfers i t t o t he w all ( cp. r ooms n o. 1 06 a nd n o. 1 07). E .

M ethods a nd N ature o f C onstruction T he e ntire h ouse i s b uilt o f

r ough s tones,

c rudely d ressed.

l ocal

l imestone,

p ossible t o e xplain w hy c ertain w alls a re b uilt o f o thers s eem t o b e d eliberately b uilt o f s mall o nes 1 0).

I n m ost c ases,

t he w alls, h ewn s tones,

i t

s eems

m ostly o f

T heir s ize v aries a nd i t l arge ( cp.

t o b e q uite b y c hance.

l arge,

i s n ot a lways s tones w hile f ig. 6 , 8 ,

I n c ontrast t o

h owever, t he d oorposts o f t he e ntranceways a re b uilt o f v ery p ainstakingly d ressed ( see f ig. 1 0). T he s tones o f

t he

a rches w ere a lso v ery n icely a nd p recisely d ressed ( see f ig.

1 1). f ig.

T he p ilasters a re o f h ewn, 3 , 1 1).

r ather c rudely c rafted,

s tone

1 0, ( see

T he e ntranceways h ave a u niform e nough w idth, a bout 0 .80 m etres. T hey c onsist o f a s tone t hreshold a nd d oorposts w hich a re t o b e n oted, a s h as b een m entioned, f or t heir b eautiful d ressing. T he d oorposts o f m ost o f t he e ntranceways h ave r egular t rapezoidal b ases w hich b roaden t oward t he b ottom ( see f ig. 3 , 1 0). T heir l intels w ere n ot p reserved b ut

i t

i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat,

l ike i n t he o ther d wellings

a t

S hivta, h ere, t oo, t hey w ere m ade o f s mooth s tones. T he c apitals o f t he d oorposts w ere a lso m ade a nd d esigned t he s ame w ay, s o t hat, i n e ssence, t here i s n o d ifference b etween t he b ases a nd t he c apitals ( see f ig. 1 0, 1 2). N either t he b ases n or t he c apitals w ere d ecorated a nd t heir

s urfaces w ere

l eft

s mooth ( 13).

T he r oofing o f t he r ooms, a s s tated, w as a chieved b y m eans o f a rches r esting o n p ilasters a ttached t o t he w all. T he t erm " attached" d oes n ot r eflect t he r ea lity, f or t he p ilasters w ere n ot r ea lly " attached" t o t he w all b ut w ere b uilt i ndependently, i n p airs, ( see, f or e xample, a ll t he p ilasters i n t he w est w ing o f t he h ouse), a nd t he s paces b etween t hem w ere f illed w ith l arge a nd s mall T hus,

i n e ffect,

aw all

w as

f ormed w ith p ilasters

2 , 4 , 1 1). T hese w alls, t hen, d ers w hich s eparate t he r ooms . E xcept

f or

t he n iches,

s tones a t

" attached"

a re n ot b earing w alls b ut

r andom.

( cp.

f ig.

r ather d ivi-

n o o ther i nstallations w ere

f ound

a t

N orth H ouse. O ne n iche, t hat i n t he c ourtyard 's s outh w all, w as a rched i n i ts u pper p art ( see f ig. 7 ), b ut, u nlike t he o ther n iches i n t he h ouse,

t his o ne n ever s erved a s a w all 1 30

c upboard.

T he o thers,

a s

s tated, w ere o f l arge, s tone s labs. T he g rooves o n b oth s ides attest t hat t here h ad b een a t hin s tone s lab i nserted - a k ind o f s helf w hich d ivided t he n iche 1 .

A rchitectural

i nto t wo

( see

f ig.

1 2).

D ecoration

A s i n t he o ther d wellings a t S hivta, t he a rchitectt iral d ecorat ion i n N orth H ouse i s s parse i ndeed ( 14). A s h as a lready b een m ent ioned, t he b ases a nd c apitals o f t he e ntranceways w ere n icely e nough d esigned, b ut t hey w ere n ot d ecorated a nd w ere l eft s mooth. A f ew p ilasters w ere d ecorated w ith c ornices w hich m arked t he e nd o f t he p ilaster a nd t he s tart o f t he a rch . T hese c ornices a lso b ore n o d ecoration ( see f ig. 3 , 1 1). W e h ave n oted, t hat i t i s p lausible t hat t he c ourtyard h ad b een p aved w ith s tone s labs l ike t he o ther d wellings a t S hivta, b ut t he p aving h as b een e ntirely p lundered. T his p aving m ost p robably w as l ike t hat o f r oom 1 03 w hich h as s urvived ( see f ig. 2 ,

1 3). I t

i s a t h ouse, s erved T hough

i s w orth n oting t hat N orth H ouse h as n o c istern.

T he n earest

a d istance o f a f ew m etres f rom t he n orthwest c orner o f t he i n t he a djoining, p aved p laza a rea ( see f ig. 1 ). T his c istern b oth W est H ouse, w hich i s i n t he c omplex, a nd N orth H ouse. t here i s a c istern i n m ost o f t he d wellings a t S hivta, w e d id

l ocate a i nstances,

f ew h ouses w ithout a p rivate c istern. I n t hese o ne c istern s erved t wo o r e ven t hree d wellings ( 15).

r are

N orth H ouse i s o utstanding f or i ts e fficient p lanning a nd i ts p lan . I t h as a r elatively s mall a rea ( 152 s quare m etres) c omt o t he o ther d wellings i nvestigated b y u s t hus f ar, b ut i ts

c lear p ared

s econd s torey c ompensated t o a d egree t o t he b uilders ( 16). T he h ouse w as b uilt

f or t he

l imited a rea

a vailable

i n t he b est t radition o f B yzantine c onstruc-

t ion, w hose p lanning i s b ased u pon s quare s paces r oofed o ver b y a rches. A t t he c entre o f t he h ouse i s a c ourtyard c onnected f or t he m ost p art. T he w est w ing o f t he h ouse s erved a s t he d welling a rea, w ith t hree s pacious r ooms o pening o nto t he c ourtyard. T he p recise p urpose o f t he l ateral r oom i n t he n orthern p art o f t he h ouse h as b een s ufficiently c larified, b ut i t a pparently w as a g uest r oom. c an s ense t he d esire t o g ive t he n orthern p art o f o pposite t he e ntrance t o t he l ateral r oom ( see f ig. 2 , a d imension o f e legance b y p roviding a l ovely, s tone r oof-bearing a rch w hich g ave r oom n o. 1 06 a p leasant, ( see

f ig.

4 ,

n ot O ne

t he c ourtyard, r oom n o. 1 06), t hreshold a nd a s hady v estibule

9 ).

T he s taircase w as b uilt n ext t o t he s outh w all o f t he c ourtyard a nd i s e vidence t hat t here w as a s econd s torey w hich e xtended o ver t he v estibule, o ver t he w est w ing, a nd a lso o ver r oom n o. 1 06 o f t he n orth

w ing.

I t

i s r easonable t o p osit t hat t he c eiling w hich r ested

o n t he a rch o pposite t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 1 06 m ade f or a c omf ortable p assage f rom t he w est t o t he n orth w ing e ven o n t he s econd s torey

l evel

( see f ig.

4 ).

N orth H ouse i s p ractically n ot d ecorated a rchitecturally a t a ll, b ut

t he m ethod o f i ts c onstruction a nd t he d ressing o f t he

1 31

d oorposts

o f t he e ntranceways, t he s tones o f t he a rches, t he b ases a nd t he c apitals - a ll o f t hese a re o utstandingly o f a n e xcellent n ature a nd o f p recise, p ainstaking c raftmanship w hich , t o a n e xtent, g loss o ver t he l ack o f d ecoration. I ts p leasant p lanning a nd c lear f unctionality m ake N orth o ne o f S hivta's m ore p leasant r esidences.

H ouse

T he l ocation o f N orth H ouse i n a p restigious c omplex, n ear t he N orth C hurch a rea a nd t he m ain c ity s quare, a nd t he v ery f act t hat i t w as b uilt o n o ne o f t he c ity 's l onger a nd m ore l ovely s treets, p erhaps h int t hat t his i s w here t he s ocial e lite o f t he c ity l ived. P erhaps t hese w ere p eople c onnected w ith t he C hurch E stablishment o f S hivta. T he a bsence o f o ther f unctional r ooms i n t he h ouse ( it h ad n o w ork r ooms, f arm o r a gricultural i nstallations, a s d id m any o f t he o ther d wellings i n t he c ity), t ends t o s trengthen o ur t heory t hat t hose p eople l ived h ere f or w hom N orth H ouse s erved e xclusively a s a r esid ence .

1 32

N OTES 1 .

T he

S hivta c ity p lan a nd i ts d ivision o f

i n a c omprehensive s tudy b y t he a uthor,

f unctions w ere a nalysed s ee:

A .

S egal,

S hivta -

T he P lan a nd A rchitecture o f a B yzantine C ity i n t he N egav, A riel p ubl., s ee i bid., 2 .

3 .

J erusalem ,

C hap.

I I,

1 981

p p.

( Hebrew),

1 9 - 3 7,

f ig.

( below:

A .

S egal,

S hivta,

1 4 - 1 7).

S ee t he c ontour map o f S hivta a s p repared a t t he e nd o f t he f irst s eason o f t he C olt E xpendition 's e xcavations a t S hivta. A . S egal,

i bid.,

f ig.

N orth

H ouse

w as

8 ,

p .16.

i nvestigated a nd s urveyed b y s tudents

o f

t he

B en-Gurion U niversity o f t he N egev's A rchaeology D epartment,

a s

p art o f t he S eminar o n " The C ities o f t he N egav i n t he B yzantine P eriod" c onducted b y t his a uthor. T he S eminar t ook p lace d uring t he

a cademic

1 980/81

y ear.

H ouse w ere d rawn u p b y P .

T he p lan a nd c ross-sections o f L upan,

t he A rchaeology

t he

D epartment's

s urveyor, w ith t he h elp o f t he s tudents w ho a ctively p articip ated i n t he s urveying. T he p hotographs a ccompanying t his s tudy w ere

t aken b y Y .

m ent.

W asserman, Y .

G ovrin,

P articipating D .

G ovrin,

M .

a s tudent

i n t he A rchaeology D epart-

i n t he m easurements o f

K irschner, H alaila,

D .

A sael,

N .

D .

N agier,

N orth

B ienenfeld, L .

R ogatky,

H ouse: K .

O .

S .

A lmaqias,

S hurkin,

O .

K atz. 4 .

C . B aly, S 'baita, P EF Q St., 1 935, p p. 1 71 - 1 81. I n t his s tudy, n othing w as s pecifically s aid a bout

t he e xcava-

t ions o f " insula I I", b ut o ne c an d educe t hat t he e xcavations h ere w ere c arried o n t ogether w ith t hat o f t he N orth C hurch a rea,

i .e.,

d uring t he f irst

t wo

s easons

( winter

1 933/34;

w inter

1 934/35). 5 .

S ee n ote 2 . I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he m ap o f t he c ity p lan, a s i t w as a pparently a ctually d rawn u p a t t he e nd o f t he f irst s eason, i ndicates e ntire

t hat

c ity.

t he C olt E xpedition d id i ntend t o e xcavate T his m ap c learly s hows S outh S treet a long

t he " insula" e xtends,

a nd t he o utline o f

t he w hich

t he o uter w alls o f

t he

h ouses c omprising t he c omplex. 6 .

S ee n ote 3 .

7 .

T he h istory o f t he s haping o f N orth S quare, t he m ain s quare o f S hivta, w as t he s ubject o f a S eminar p aper b y Y . G ovrin, w ho m ade a d etailed s tudy o f

8 .

t he N orth C hurch a rea a nd N orth S quare.

T hese a re t he g eneral d imensions o ver-all l ength : 1 9.00 m etres o ver-all w idth: o ver-all

a rea:

o f N orth H ouse:

1 2.90 m etres 2 16.00 s quare m etres

T hese a re t he r oom d imensions: 1 .

r oom n o.

2 .

n o.

1 02 - 5 .50 x 7 .00

1 01

- 3 .40 x 0 .50 m etres;

3 . 4 .

n o. n o.

1 03 - 4 .90 x 5 .30 1 04 - 4 .90 x 5 .00

1 33

,

a rea:

1 8.70 s quare m etres;

;

:3 8.50

;

:2 5.97

;

:2 4.50

"

,

;

,

;

;

5 . 6 . 7 .

n o. n o. n o.

t l

1 05 - 4 .90 x 4 .90 1 06 - 2 .40 x 5 .60 1 07 - 1 .30 x 5 .50

T he o ver-all a rea o f t he s quare m etres. 9 .

F or a n e xample,

s ee:

:2 4.01 : 1 3.44 :

r ooms,

7 .15

i ncluding t he c ourtyard:

S table H ouse,

P ool H ouse,

1 52.27

a nd t he

t hree

h ouses c onstituting G overnor's H ouse. 1 0.

1 1.

T he s ubject o f r oofing m ethods i n d esert a rchitecture, w hich i s c haracteristic o f t he N egav, h as r eceived a g reat d eal o f a ttent ion i n o ur s tudy o f P ool I II, p . 5 4, n . 1 0 .

H ouse,

I n

i n S yria,

a

b uilding

i n D uma,

s ee:

w e

A .

S egal,

f ound

a n

o p.

c it.,

,c h.

a rchitectural

s olution f or r oofing p art o f t he c ourtyard b y m eans o f a s ingle a rch, v ery s imilar t o t hat o pposite t he e ntrance t o t he l iving q uarters w ing. S ee: M . C entrale, P aris, 1 865,

1 2.

f ig.

3 0 .

T ill

n ow w e h ave n ot

d e V ogue, p l. X II.

W .W. W addington, S ee a lso A . S egal,

f ound a s ingle b uilding a t

L a S yrie o p. c it.,

S hivta

i n

w hich

u se i s m ade o f a h orizontal s upport s uch a s w e h ave h ere. T he h orizontal s upport i s w idespread i n t he G alil, i n S yria, a nd i n T rans-Jordan, b ut, f or s ome r eason, i t i s n ot a t a ll a cceptable i n t he N egav i n s pite o f t he f act t hat i t i s o ne o f t he t ypical s olutions f or " woodless" a rchitecture ( see n . 1 0). 1 3.

A

s election o f

w orthy o f

a rchitectural

f or i ts s parseness.

i tems a t B yzanite S hivta i s

t he b ases a nd c apitals s imilar,

M ost

o f

a ted:

b ut

t heir d ecoration a s w ell.

t he a rchitectural e mbellishment a t

t he c hurches.

n ote-

N ot o nly a re t he d ressing a nd d esign S hivta

i s

f ound

i n

T he p rivate h omes w ere o nly v ery s lightly d ecor-

f or e xample,

s ee P ool

H ouse o r S table H ouse.

E ven

t he

t hree h ouses w hich c omprised G overnor's H ouse w ere b arely d ecora ted a t 1 2.

a ll. A .

A nalysis, A lso ' s ee,

1 4.

S ee:

S egal, E retz

A .

I srael

p p.

1 57-158.

A ll

t he a rchitectural

F or

o p.

c it.,

1 7,

i n p rint,

p .

5 1,

f ig.

a n e xample,

4 4,

4 5,

( Hebrew).

i tems w hich w e h ave l ocated a t

c hapter V I,

S hivta w ill

i n a s eparate m onograph.

s ee t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex.

W est H ouse

h as n o c istern a nd i ts o ccupants h ad t o u se t he c istern a t h ouse n orth o f t hem ( where C entral C hurch w as b uilt). b elow, 1 6.

n .

S hivta - A n A rchitectural

b elow t he d iscussion o f G overnor's H ouse,

b e p ublished s hortly 1 5.

S egal,

T he S table H ouse a t

t he d iscussion o f G overnor's H ouse,

c hapter V I,

p .

t he S ee,

1 63.

C ompare, f or e xample: 1 . t he a rea o f P ool H ouse: 2 . u S table H ouse:

4 00 s quare m etres; 3 42 i t ;

3 .

S outh H ouse:

2 15

;

h ouses

N orth H ouse: W est H ouse:

1 04 3 40

;

c onstituting G overnor's

4 . 5 .

I t I t

u

u

H ouse

1 34

F ig.

1 .

S hivta,

N orth C hurch a rea

1 37

a nd N orth S quare

F ig.

2 .

N orth H ouse,

1 38

p lan

o n

1 39

SH IVTA

The No rth F ig.

4 .

N orth H ouse,

i sometric

1 40

p artial

r econstruction

House

N orth H ouse.

6 .

S hivta,

N orth H ouse c ourtyard.

a nd

s outh w all

t he

o f

L ooking s outh t o t he

t he c ourtyard w hich h as

h idden w indow a nd t he a rched n iche 1 41

t he v estibule

e ntrance

F ig.

s taircase

t he p artially

F ig.

7 .

S hivta,

N orth H ouse c ourtyard.

s outhwest e ntrance

t o t o

t he

a rched

r oom n o.

H ouse's w est w ing

1 42

n iche

1 03 w hich

L ooking a nd i s

t he i n

t he

• t , g

4 J

0

( X I

• 0 ( . )

4 J C L i •

( I ) 4 J

t

0 N 4 C L ) 0 " C D • -1

( f )

C O

4 . )

_c o

0Q 0Q ) 4 . 4

4 . )

4

0

O G

E

0 0

( I 3

C I )

0 . )

l

a

g 0 • , 1

. • c r ) 0 )

J 4J

0 U

( 2 ) 4 1

4 . )

4 — )"O u l

0 )

C Z

4 1

C C i «

o Z

•

c O

( 1 )

( Z )

r oom no.

C O

( i ) • — 4 o 0 E -1

•

e • 0 1 r e

0

t o

= 4 1

0

0 4 J

0

0 C 4 ‘ 6 C I ) v • . 4 C ) > U D CO

14 : 3

" C D

C I )

C O › , 4 J

0U ) 4 ) 0

e ntrance

C U •

g 0 g i

O . )

s outheast

t oward t he

1 : 3 • M

i i

4

C I )

•

E

• U /

( t )

a

0 3 4 1

c u 4 _ 1

O

W z o o 7 : 1

E a l 0 O r e

4 4 4 7

N . 4

t n

( I )

•

o

•t n

es s

ä . 0 Q . ) "4

"0

. 2 c o O t •

o • 0

E O O

0 o > a t

I D

0

( 1 )

b . 0

^

U )

U )C • 0 0 0 . . ( h

0

u

C O

0 0

0

• , 4 4 . 4 Q c r i

Q . ) 4 J

-

• C U

o

c f )

Q . ) ( i ) 4 . ) • .0 0 U N rI c t j 0▪

•

e •C

O

4 . • )

Q ) U

C I ) Q . ) ( r )

C I )

( 1 ) 0

4 J

e

O

4 . 4

r ö▪ C . ) •

•

4 -1 O

Cn

0 e— I

4 .

c u

" .0

Q . ) 0 4 J

r— I

•

•

4 -1 ( . 1 )

4 1 0

I• — I

C . )

4I

• • • • 1 •

c d

4 J r e

( 2 ) or . 0. 4

E 0 0 > 4

C L J O

00 2 40

-0

W

4 . 4 0

C O 4 J

3

r e

G J

t he

n iche

. 4 . i

4 — ) C ) •-

C N O

f rom t he

C) 4 . ) •

( 1 )

4 )

Z

0 N

• f 1 • i v 0 . 0

z E

0 . `4

" C , r j

( V

r t 1 • 4 ) 1 : 1

• O

7 "

" C S

• , -. 1 4 ) c i f C O

C ) 0 . 1 2

4 . 1 C 0 U

4 ) 0

V) 0

• . 1 )

e t i

O

0 0

e 0. 0

C U 4 ) 0 Z

• • • 4 . 1 >

u 1

C O

• O •

C i )

C) 4 4 0

4 )

G ) 0 "0 G E 0 r e 0 Z 4 ) • , u-) C L) C . ) c . 1

0 1 o, . .z 0 ) ( f )

( 1 3

4 . ) —

c

0

4 )

• 0 )

1 )

( 3 ) C I D

* , 1 " C 1

• •

C • 1

1 47

U l . 14 0 • , 4

4 . J

4 4

z a i D

• c n

c • , -)

/ 4 -

C HAPTER V I T HE G OVERNOR'S

H OUSE A ND T HE

1 49

C ENTRAL

C HURCH

A .

I ntroduction: T he

S hivta,

G overnor's H ouse a nd t he C entral a t

f ig.

( see

T he

o ne o f 3 ,

p .

t he

4 9)

N ational

i ntersections

C hurch a re a t

o f t he c ity's

t he c entre o f

i mportant

s treets.

( 1).

P arks A uthority w hich,

f rom 1 958-1960,

d ealt

w ith

t he c leaning, p reservation, a nd p reparation o f t he s ite f or t ourists, d esignated t he c omplex o f b uildings n ear t he C entral C hurch a s t he " Commanding O fficer's H ouse".

( 2).

t ion h as n owhere b een d ocumented, w ho

w as

r esponsible i s

W hat w as s o

t hat

d one b y w ay o f p reserva-

t here

i s n o w ay o f

f or t his d esignation n or w hat w ere

t ions.

I t

c omplex,

i ts r elatively f ine p reservation,

r easonable

t o a ssume

t hat

t he c entral

a nd m ore a ppropriate t o

o f t he complex,

m otiva-

l ocation o f

a nd i ts c onsiderable

s ions a re w hat g ained i t t hat " C.O.'s H ouse" d esignation h ere h ave p referred t he t itle " Governor's H ouse", w hich i s m itting

k nowing

i ts

( 3). l ess

t he c ommunal-administrative

r ather t han " C.O.'s H ouse",

t he

d imenW e c om-

f unction

w hich h as m ilitary i mpli-

c ations. B .

R esearch H istory:

T he i nvestigators w ho c entury and t he s tart o f t he n or's

H ouse"

v isited S hivta a t t wentieth c entury,

m ainly b ecause o f

i ts p roximity t o

r ather t han f or a ny s ignificance o f i ts o wn. W oolley a nd W iegand, d escribe t he s tructure t he f ine t ion t o b e a nd 4 ,

p reservation o f t he s outhern t he s tructure's n ature o r

s ure,

t he

C entral

C hurch

P almer a nd M usil, l ike i n g eneralities, n oting

t ower,

f unction

t he e nd o f t he l ast m ention t he " Gover-

b ut

( 4).

W oolley a nd W iegand d o g ive t he p lans

p ay a lmost n o a ttenI n t heir r eports,

t o

o f t he G overnor's H ouse

t he C entral C hurch, b ut b oth o f t hem a re v ery i mprecise ( see f ig. 5 ). T he r eports o f M usil, W oolley, a nd W iegand h ave e xcellent

p hotographs w hich v erify t he f ine p reservation o f G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral

o f

C hurch

( 6).

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch w ere e xcavated i n t he s ummer 1 936, d uring t he C olt E xpedition's t hird s eason ( 7). C entral

C hurch

w as

e xcavated c ompletely b ut

G overnor's H ouse o nly

p artially.

T he r esults o f t he e xcavations h ave n ever b een p ublished. F urtherm ore, t he C olt E xpedition e xcavators n ever d rew u p t he p lans o f t he b uildings T he

e xcavated d irt a nd

( 8). f allen s tones

i n

t he v icinity o f

t he C entral C hurch

a rea t he e xcavators c leared a way t o a n earby a rea n orth o f t he C hurch w here t hey w ere p iled. T hus, i t i s i mpossible a t t his t ime t o s tudy h ow

t hat

a rea

w as o rganized.

T he p roblem o f t he d ebris

f rom

t he

G overnor's H ouse e xcavations w as e ven m ore d ifficult: i n t his i ns tance, t he d irt w as c leared a way a nd c oncentrated i n a s ection o f o ne o f

t he c ourtyards

a nd

s ome o f

t he r ooms

( see f ig.

1 ,

2 ,

2 9)

( 9).

T his

h as p revented u s f rom e xamining t hose r ooms a nd, h ence, f rom c omplet ing t he p lan o f G overnor's H ouse. ( Governor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch w ere i nvestigated a nd s urveyed b y t his a uthor i n 1 981-1982. T he

p lan

s urveyor.

w as

d rawn

A rchaeology

N egev a ssisted

i n

u p b y

P .

L upan,

t he

A rchaeology

D ivision's

s tudents o f t he B en-Gurion U niversity o f

t his w ork)

( 10).

1 51

t he

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch a re d iscussed h ere t ogether. H owever, i n s pite o f t heir p roximity a nd a rchitectural i ntegration, b oth s tructures f unctioned s eparately, e ach s erving a d ifferent p urp ose. W e s hall

f irst d escribe C entral C hurch a nd t hen G overnor's H ouse.

I .

C ENTRAL C HURCH

A .

I ntroduction C entral

C hurch i s

t he s mallest a nd m ost p oorly p reserved o f t he

t hree c hurches e xcavated a t S hivta. I t w as a lso t he l ast t o b e e xcav ated ( Summer, 1 936) ( 11). T he p lans o f t he o ther t wo c hurches h ave b een p ublished, a lbeit p artially, w hile t he p lan o f t he C entral C hurch h as n ever b een d rawn u p a nd i s h ere b eing p ublished f or t he f irst t ime ( see f ig. B .

1 ,

6 ,

7 )

( 12).

D escription o f t he C hurch

C entral C hurch, a s w e t oo s hall d esignate i t f ollowing t he C olt E xpedition 's i nvestigators a nd e xcavators, i s i n t he n orthwest c orner o f t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex. T he c hurch's f acade f aces w est w hereas t he t hree a pses f ace e ast, a s i s t he c ase o f a ll t he c hurches i n t he N egev ( see f ig.

1 ,

2 ,

3 ,).

T he g eneral c onfiguration o f t he c hurch i s r ectangular, s omewhat i rregular ( overall l ength: 2 5.70 m etres; o verall w idth: 1 5.60 m etres). T he

w alls:

t he

n orthern a nd s outhern w alls o f t he c hurch

m eet

t he

w estern o ne a t r ight a ngles, b ut t he e astern w all, i n w hich t he t hree a pses a re, i s t hicker a t i ts n ortheast e nd. T his d eviation w as c aused w hen t he c hurch w as b uilt i nto t he c omplex o f e xisting b uildings ( see b elow , p age 1 54). T he c hurch's b uilders w ere f orced t o c ontend w ith a v ery l imited a rea e xtending b etween W est S treet a nd t he N orth H ouse o f t he G overnor's H ouse s tructure. B etween t he w est w all o f N orth H ouse a nd t he w all o f t he c hurch's a pses, a w edge-like s pace w as c reated w hich h ad t o b e f illed i n w ith u nhewn s tones a nd m ortar.

( 20.70

C entral C hurch i s m ade u p o f o nly t wo c omponents: x 1 3.70 m etres) a nd t he n arthex. T his l ast

a p rayer h all i s e specially

n arrow ( 13.70 x 2 .50 m etres) ( see f ig. 8 , 9 ), a nd c onstitutes a p ass age b etween W est S treet a nd t he p rayer h all. T he p art o f t he s treet w hich i s o pposite t he n arthex e ntrance i s p aved w ith f ine s tone s labs l ike t he n arthex i tself. T his i s u nusual a nd a pparently w as d one " to c ompensate" f or t he n arrow n arthex a nd l ack o f a n a trium ( see f ig. 1 , 9 ). T he

C hurch's m ain e ntrance,

a s

s tated,

w as

f rom W est

S treet,

t hrough a p assage, b etween t wo s quare p illars a nd t wo a ffixed, c orner p ilasters, i nto t he n arrow n arthex a nd, f rom t here, t hrough t hree e ntrances o f a lmost i dentical w idth ( 1.50 m etres e ach), d irectly i nto t he p rayer h all ( the e ntrance t o t he s outh s ide b eing n arrower: 1 .20 m etres w ide - s ee f ig. 8 , 9 ). N ear t he c entre e ntrance t o t he h all, t o t he s outh o f t he h alf-base w hich i s a ttached t o t he w all, i n t he n orthern r ow o f b ases, a n o pening f or d rawing w ater f rom a c istern w as f ound. ( see

f ig.

T he 1 ,

c istern i s

f ull o f

d ebris a nd h as n ot y et b een

1 0).

1 52

e xamined

T he p rayer h all i tself, w hich w as p ainstakingly p aved w ith r ectangular .stone s labs, i s d ivided b y t wo r ows o f s quare b ases i nto a c entral h all ( its w idth: 5 .20 m etres) a nd t wo w ings ( each o f w hich i s 3 .60 m etres w ide). E ach r ow h ad f our b ases. T he o utside e astern s ide w ere a ttached a t t he c orners t o t he e levated s ite t he c entral a pse ( see f ig.1, 3 , 1 0). L eading u p t o b ema, w hich p rojects f rom t he l ine o f t he a pses' w all

o nes o n t he b ema o ppot he c entral a bout 4 .20

m etres i nto t he c entral h all, a re t wo s tairs m ade o f c arefully d ressed s tone b eams ( see f ig . 1 , 1 1). T he b emas o pposite t he t wo s ide a pses a re l ower ( reached b y o ne s tair), a nd p roject a bout 1 .40 m etres. U nlike t he p rayer h all, t he t hree b emas, o pposite t he t hree a pses, w ere p aved w ith w hite m osaic. R ectangular a nd s quare h ollows, c hiselled o ut a t s et d istances i n t he u pper s tair o pposite t he c entral and s ide a pses, a ttest t hat t he b emas w ere s eparated f rom t he h all b y t he u prights a nd p anels o f t he l attice-work s creens ( 13).

3 ,

T hree a dditional e ntrances l ed i nto t he p rayer h all ( see f ig. 1 , 1 3): t wo i n t he n orthern w all o f t he c hurch - t he a dditional o ne i n

t he s outhern w all. T he n orthern w all e ntrances a re l ocated, t he o ne a t t he w estern e nd, v ery n ear t he n arthex; t he s econd, a t t he e astern end, n ear t he n orthern a pse. T hese t wo e ntrances w e b elieve t o b e o riginal. B ecause o f t he h eaps o f d ebris r esulting f rom t he c oncent rated d umpings o f t he C olt E xpedition e xcavators, t here i s n o k nowing w here t he t wo e ntrances l ed a nd h ow t he a rea n ear t he n orth s ide o f t he c hurch w as o rganized. S tudy o f t he a erial p hotos o f t he W orld W ar p eriod i n c omparison t o t he m odern o nes w e h ave, i ndicates t hat t he a rea p robably w as a l arge c ourtyard ( see f ig.

4 ,

p .

4 9)

( 14).

T he s outhern e ntrance l eads o ut o f t he c hurch i nto a n a djacent, c onnected, r ectangular s quare, s eparated f rom W est S treet b y a w all b uilt o f l arge s tones, r oughly d ressed. S imilarly b uilt i s t he w all c losing o ff t he s quare o n t he s outh s ide. T oday, t he s quare i s f ull o f s tone r ubble a nd o ne c annot t ell w hether i t h ad b een p aved l ike t he p rayer h all. F rom t he s quare, o ne c ould g o e ast, a cross a t hreshold o f w ell-dressed s tone b eams, i nto a r oom r unning a long i ts w idth ( see f ig. 1 , r oom n o. 3 08, w hose d imensions a re 4 .90 x 3 .00 m etres), i s p aved w ith r ectangular s tone s labs i dentical t o t hat o f t he p rayer h all. T his " lateral r oom" h as b een p artially c leaned o ut b y u s, b ut m ost o f i t i s s till d ebris-covered. T he e ssence a nd p urpose o f t his r oom a re u nclear t o u s, b ut t he m inor, e xploratory e xcavation w hich w e d id c onduct h ere b rought t o l ight a n umber o f f acts w hich h ave s hed l ight o n t he i nter-relationship o f G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch ( 15). T he n orthwest,

" lateral

r oom"

( see f ig.

c orner r oom o f W est H ouse

1 ,

1 3)

s erved o riginally a s

t he

i n t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex.

I ts f loor l evel w as t he s ame a s t hat o f t he o ther r ooms a djoining i t, i .e. a bout 1 .5 m etres l ower t han t hat o f t he C entral C hurch f loor. A t a c ertain s tage, f or r easons u nknown t o u s, i t w as d ecided t o s eparate t his r oom f rom W est H ouse a nd m ake i t p art o f C entral C hurch . T his w as d one i n a n umber o f s tages: f irst, t he e ntranceway b etween r ooms n o. 3 08 ( the " lateral r oom") a nd n o. 3 09 ( see f ig. a nd a s ection o f t he n orthwest w all o f W est H ouse W as i ts p lace,

b etween t wo p ilasters m ade o f h ewn,

1 ) w as s ealed u p t aken d own. I n

w ell-dressed s tone,

a

t hreshold w as s et, a lso o f f ine s tone b eams. T he r oom s pace w as f illed i n t o e qualize i ts l evel w ith t hat o f C entral C hurch. F inally,

1 53

t he " lateral r oom" w as p aved w ith r ectangular, t o t he p aving o f t he p rayer h all.

s tone s labs

i dentica l

A q uick g lance i s e nough t o r ealize t hat C entral C hurch i s l ater t han G overnor's H ouse, a nd o ne m ay r easonably p osit t hat i t w as e rect ed o n t op o f a nother d welling w hich, i n i ts t ime, o ccupied t he n orthw est c orner o f t he c omplex - w hich, i n t urn, o riginally, l ike o ther s imilar s tructures i n S hivta, c ontained f our d wellings. T his o ne w as r azed t o c lear t he s ite f or t he e rection o f t he c hurch. T he d evelopm ent j ust d escribed i s e vidence t hat t he l imited a rea a vailable t o t he c hurch's b uilders, a nd w hich w as s ufficient f or t he p rayer h all a nd n arrow n arthex, p roved t o b e i nadequate, s o t hat a t a l ater s tage a r oom w as e xpropriated f rom W est H ouse a nd a dded t o t he C hurch. C .

M ethods a nd N ature o f C onstruction

T he c onstruction m ethods u sed i n C entral C hurch a re n o d ifferent f rom t hose o f t he o ther t wo c hurches. T he n on-bearing w alls w ere b uilt o f r ough s tones, o nly s lightly d ressed, v arying i n s ize, w ith s mall, u nhewn s tones a nd m ortar b etween t hem . T he n orthern w all i s a bout 0 .90 m etres t hick w hereas t he o pposite, s outhern w all, a djacent t o t he W est H ouse w all, i s 0 .60 m etres t hick ( see f ig. 1 ). T he w est w all o f t he C hurch, w hich i s t he f acade w all, a s w ell a s t he n arthex w a lls, a re c onstructed o f v ery c arefully S imilarly h ewn w ere t he s quare p illars, w all, t he e ight b ases, t he t wo a ffixed ( see f ig. 1 0, 1 1). T he e ntire n arthex t he p rayer h all a re p aved w ith s mooth, f ig.

8 ,

1 0,

g ives t he T he

1 1,

1 3).

h ewn s tones ( see f ig. 8 , 1 1). t he p ilasters a ffixed t o t he b ases a nd, f inally, t he a pses a rea, t he " lateral r oom", a nd r ectangular s tone s labs ( see

T he p aving i s o utstanding f or i ts p recision a nd

s mall c hurch a n e specially a ttractive a ppearance. c onstruction

m ethod o f

t he t hree a pses

i s

w orth

n oting.

T hanks t o t he c ollapse o f t he e astern f ace o f t he w all, w hich c losed o ff t he a pses t o t he e ast, t he i nterior o f t his t hick w all h as b een e xposed ( see f ig. 1 , 3 , 2 2). I t b ecame c lear t hat e ach o f t he a pses w as b uilt s eparately: f irst, t he c entral a pse, b uilt s emi-circularly f rom t he w est, w ith p arallel n orth a nd s outh w alls; a nd, t hen, t he e ast w all. T his s tructure i s f illed w ith r ough s tones a nd m ortar. T he t wo s ide a pses w ere s imilarly c onstructed, a djoining t he c entral a pse ( compare f ig. 1 , 3 , 8 , 2 2). D .

C hurch F urniture a nd A rchitectural V ery

p lace, s ible,

l ittle

o f t he c hurch's

D ecoration

f urnishings h as

r emained

b ut, f rom t he d escriptions o f t he i nvestigators, a t l east i n p art, t o r econstruct t he a ppearances o f

i n

i ts

i t i s p ost he c hurch

e xterior, . the n arthex a nd t he p rayer h all. U pon e ntering t he C hurch f rom W est S treet, o ne s aw i n f ront o f h im t he f acade o f t he n arthex, i .e., f ig.

t he 1 ,

a rched p assageways, 3 ,);

t he c entral o ne b eing t he w idest

h aving e ntered t he n arthex i tself,

w ith

l ovely

( see s tone

b enches o n e ither s ide, h e c ould, a gain t hrough t hree e ntranceways, p roceed d irectly i nto t he p rayer h all. T hese t hree e ntrances, w e c an a ssume, w ere r oofed w ith l intels i n t he f orm o f s mooth s tone b eams, s imilar t o t hose i n S hivta's o ther t wo c hurches. T he p edestals, w hich d ivided t he p rayer h all i nto a c entre h all a nd t wo s ide s ections, b ore c olumns. T hese b ases h ave r emained i n s itu a nd a re n oteworthy f or t heir c areful

c raftsmanship a nd f ine d ressing ( see

1 54

f ig.

1 0,

1 1)

( 16).

I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he C hurch's n orth a nd s outh w alls w ere p lastered a nd e ven, p erhaps, c overed w ith t hin m arble s labs, i n t he s ame

f ashion a s t he w alls o f S hivta's N orth C hurch

( 17).

A s a lready n oted, t he e levated b ema, o pposite t he c entral a pse, p rojected 4 .20 m etres f rom t he a pse w all l ine. T wo f ine s tone s tairs c ircle

i t

f rom t he n orth,

w est,

a nd s outh.

T he h ollows

i n t he t op

s tair c onfirm t hat l attice-work p anels a nd t heir s upporting p osts s eparated t he c ongregation o f w orshippers i n t he h all f rom t hose c onducting t he w orship r ituals o n t he b ema. T he s ide b emas o nly p rojected 1 .40 m etres f rom t he a pse w all l ine a nd a re l ower t han t he c entral a ltar. T hey, t oo, w ere s imilarly s eparated f rom t he p rayer h all. T oday, n othing r emains o f t he c hurch f urnishings w hich w ere c ertainly, f or t he m ost p art, m ade o f m arble, a s i s c onfirmed b y t he r eports

o f t he i nvestigators

( 18).

O f t he a rchitectural d ecoration, a s w ell, v ery l ittle h as r em ained i n s itu. A t t he e ntrance i n t he C hurch's s outh w all, t wo b ases o f c orner p ilasters h ave r emained a t t heir o riginal s ites. T hey w ere s imilarly d esigned, i n t rapezoid f orm, b roader a t t he b ase, a nd t heir d ecoration - a r ow o f t riangu lar t eeth ( "hound's t eeth") e ngraved i n h igh r elief o n t he u pper s ection o f t he b ase ( see f ig. 1 3). W iegand n otes m ents,

t hat h e s aw i n t he C hurch's p rayer h all o ther d ecorative f ragi ncluding c haracteristic r osettes, b ut w e w ere u nable t o l ocate

t hese

i tems

( 19).

T he a pses a lso w ere e mbelished w ith w all

d rawings

w hose r emnants w ere s till s een a t t he b eginning o f t he c entury b ut w hich n o t race r emains t oday ( 20). I t

o f

C hurch

w ould s eem t hat t he a rchitectural d ecoration i n C entral w as c omparatively p oorer t han t hat i n S hivta's t wo o ther c hur-

c hes. s tone,

O n t he o ther h and, t he c onstruction w ork p er s e: t he d ressed t he p recision w ith w hich t hey w ere l aid, t he f inish o f t he

a rchitectural

i tems a nd t he p aving - s urpasses t hat o f

t he o ther

t wo

c hurches. T he r oofing o f C entral C hurch, a lso, i s s imilar t o t hat o f t he o ther t wo c hurches, i .e., b y m eans o f an etwork o f w ooden b eams, b orne o n a rcades o r a rchitraves ( also m ade o f w ood), s o t hat i ts r oof h ad a d ouble s lope a bove t he c entre h all a nd a s ingle s lope o ver t he t wo w ings. L ight c ame i nto t he p rayer h all t hrough w indows c ut t hrough t he w alls c arried o n t he a rcades, e xploiting t he s pace b etween t he r oof o ver t he c entre h all a nd t he r oofs o ver t he w ings ( see f ig. 3 ) ( 21). I n t he a bsence o f e pigraphic,

n umismatic o r c eramic e vidence, w e

c annot d etermine w hen t he C entral C hurch w as e rected a nd w hether i t i s l ater o r e arlier t han i ts t wo s ister c hurches i n S hivta. A s f or t ypology, a ll o f t he c ity 's c hurches a re i n t he t hree-apse c ategory ( 22). N egev

B ased u pon t he t ypological-chronological i nvestigation o f t he c hurches d one b y P rof. A . N egev a nd o ur r esearch o f S hivta's

u rban e st,

d evelopment,

i t

s eems

t hat

f ollowed b y N orth C hurch,

S hivta's S outh C hurch i s t he e arli-

w ith C entral C hurch b eing t he

l atest

( 23). C ompared t o S hivta's o ther t wo c hurches a nd t he c hurches, C entral C hurch i s n ot o utstanding f or i ts p lan, m ethod,

o r d ecorations.

T o b e

s ure,

1 55

i t

i s

o ther N egev c onstruction

t he s mallest o f a ll,

b ut,

a gain, i ts s ize w as t he r esult, a s n oted, o f t he s mall s pace a lloted f or i ts e rection w ithin a n a rea b ounded b y s treets ( see f ig. 3 , p . 4 9). E ven t he f act o f i ts b eing b uilt w ithin a n e xisting a nd f unct ioning u rban s etting i s n ot u nusual. S hivta's S outh C hurch a nd t he t wo c hurches a t M amshit w ere b uilt

i n a s imilar s ituation

( see

f ig.19,

p . 6 3; 7 ) ( 24). T he u niqueness o f C entral C hurch l ies i n t he l ack o f s tructures, h alls, o r r ooms a djacent t o t he p rayer h all i tself. C ent ral C hurch h as j ust t wo s ections: t he n arrow n arthex ( about 3 4 s qu are m etres i n a rea) a nd t he p rayer h all ( about 2 80 m etres i n a rea). T he l ater a ddition o f t he " lateral r oom" d id n ot c hange t he s ituation m uch ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 1 3). W e h ave e mphasized t he f act t hat t here w as n o c onnection w hats oever b etween C entral C hurch a nd G overnor's H ouse a nd t hat t he t wo s tructures f unctioned a bsolutely i ndependently, i n s pite o f t heir a rchitectural i ntegration ( 25). I n l ight o f a ll t his, s pecial a ttent ion

s hould b e p aid t o t he C hurch's m ain

e ntrance

c onstructed,

y ou

w ill r ecall, w ith t hree w ide, c onvenient e ntrances l iterally o n t he e dge o f W est S treet, i nviting t he p assers-by i n. A l ook a t t he e ntrance a rrangements o f t he o ther t wo c hurches i n S hivta s hows c learly t hat t he s ituation, t here, i s c ompletely d ifferent. N orth C hurch, f or e xample, c ould b e e ntered f rom N orth S quare, t hrough a r ather n arrow e ntranceway, i nto a v estibule; f rom t here, i nto t he a trium a nd, t hen, t hrough t he n arthex i nto t he p rayer h all. A t S outh C hurch, t oo, a n arrow e ntranceway l ed f rom P ool S quare t o t he v estib ule; f rom t here, i nto t he n arthex f rom w hich o ne e ntered t he p rayer h all ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 ). I t

s eems

t o u s

t hat t he e ntrance a rrangement o f C entral

C hurch

i ndicates t he s pecial c haracter o f t his c hurch. I ts t wo s ister c hurc hes i n S hivta, f or a ll t hat t hey w ere a n i ntegral p art o f a n u rban s etting, w ere e nclosed, i ndependent u nits w hich a pparently f unctioned w ith n o c onnection t o t heir i mmediate s urroundings - h ence, t he c learly d efined a reas o f t he c hurches a nd t he a dministrative, e conomic-industrial c onstellations w ithin t he s tructures a djacent t o t he c hurches t hemselves. O n t he o ther h and, C entral C hurch i s a t otally d ifferent k ind o f w orship s tructure, s erving t he g eneral c ommunity, w ith n o a dministrative o r e conomic f unctions w hatsoever. T here i s n o m onastery n ext t o i t a nd t herefore i t d oes n ot n eed s cores o f r ooms, l ike N orth C hurch. I ts a rea i s l imited, b ut w ith e nough r oom f or t hose i nterested i n c oming i n t o p articipate i n t he r ituals o f w orship a nd p rayer. I t s eems t o u s t hat C entral C hurch i s, f irst a nd f oremost, a n " urban" c hurch s erving t he u rban c ommunity-at-large r ather t han t he m embers o f a n O rder o r a c ommunity w hich i s l imited a nd

s eparate

f rom t he g eneral c ity r esidents - a nd h erein

l ies

i ts

u niqueness. I I.

" GOVERNOR 'S H OUSE"

A .

I ntroduction A

s tructure w hich e xtends e ast a nd s outheast o f C entral

w as d esignated b y W oolley i nvestigators s aw i t a s C hurch, n ot a s a b uilding l ooks a t G overnor's H ouse, t he i mpression t hat i t a s

C hurch

a nd W iegand a s a m onastic b uilding. B oth o ne l arge s tructure c onnected t o C entral s tanding o n i ts o wn ( 26). I ndeed, i f o ne e specially f rom i ts s outh s ide, o ne c an g et a s ingle s tructure w hose m ain f acade f aces

1 56

s outh . T he p lans d rawn b y W ooley a nd W iegand v erify t hat a lso t heir i mpression ( see f ig. 4 , 5 ).

t oo,

t his

w as

W hen w e c ame t o s tudy a nd d raw t he p lan o f G overnor's H ouse, s aw i t a t f irst a s o ne b uilding w ith a c omplicated p lan.

w e, W e

t hought w e h ad a c omplex c onnected w ith t he C hurch l ike t hose a djacent t o t he t wo o thers i n S hivta ( see f ig. 1 4, p . 5 7; 6 , 7 ). I n t he c ourse o f w orking o n t he s ite, i t s oon b ecame c lear t o u s t hat w e w ere d ea ling w ith t hree o rdinary d wellings w hich f orm a n u rban c ompound s uch a s i s f ound i n m any p laces i n S hivta ( see f ig. 1 4, p . 5 7) ( 27). E ach o f t he t hree h as a s eparate p lan a nd a d issimilar a rea. I t s eems t hat o riginally t here w ere f our d wellings. T he n orthwest b uildi ng w as r azed i n o rder t o m ake r oom f or C entral C hurch. T he c cntours o f t he C hurch, i ts s ize a nd i ts i ntegration i nto t he c omplex, v erify t his c onclusion, a s w e h ave a lready s tated ( 28). W e h ave a lso t aken s pecial c ognizance o f t he f act t hat t he v ery p henomenon o f e recting a c hurch i n t he m idst o f a v ital, f unctioning u rban s etting i s w ell k nown t o u s i n S hivta a nd o ther N egev c ities. S hivta's S outh C hurch, b uilt e ast o f t he " Double P ool" i n t he e arly c entre o f t he c ity, w as b uilt i n t he m idst o f ac ongested r esidential a rea. r eason f or t he u nusual d esign s olutions d evised b y t he M amshit,

T his i s b uilders.

t wo c hurches w ere b uilt w ithin r esidential a reas:

t he

t he A t

l arger

e astern o ne a nd t he s maller w estern o ne, a nd e xtensive c learing w as r equired t o m ake s pace a vailable f or t hem. H ere, t oo, t he a rchitects f ound s pecial s olutions f or c oping w ith t he " on-site" r ealities ( 29). B .

D escription o f A s

f ig .

r eported,

1 ,

2 ):

( 1)

" Governor 's H ouse" G overnor's H ouse i s m ade u p o f t he " south h ouse"

( rooms

n o.

t hree d wellings 1 01-109);

( see

( 2)

t he

" north h ouse" ( rooms n o. 2 01-205); ( 3) t he " west h ouse" ( rooms n o. 3 01-315). T he t otal a rea o f t he t hree w as a bout 6 60 s quare m etres ( see f ig.

1 ,

2 )

( 30).

F irst, w e s hall d escribe e ach o f t he t hree i ndividually; t hen w e s hall t ry t o r econstruct h ow t hey w ere t ransformed i nto a c ommunity b uilding; a nd, f inally, w e s hall d iscuss h ow G overnor's H ouse f unct ioned and i ts u niqueness o n t he u rban S hivta

l andscape.

1 .

1 01-109)

T he

" South H ouse"

S outh

H ouse

( see

f ig.

1 ,

r ooms n o.

i s t he l oveliest a nd b est p reserved o f

t he

t hree .

I ts m ain e ntrance w as f rom t he s outh s ide, t he o nly e ntrance t o G overn or's H ouse w hich w as g iven a rchitectural e mbellishment ( 31). A t ower,

w hich i s

s till

p reserved t o t he h eight o f

t wo s tories,

r ises f rom t he s outhern f acade o f t he h ouse f acing " Governor's H ouse P laza", o ne o f t he t hree c ity s quares o f B yzantine S hivta. T he t ower c ould b e e ntered t hrough t he e ntrance i n i ts s outh w all ( see f ig. 1 , r oom n o. 1 01) a nd, f rom t here, t hrough a nother e ntrance, o ne c ould g o i nto t he h ouse c ourtyard ( room n o. 1 03). T he t ower's s outhern e nt rance

w ay

d oes n ot a t a ll d iffer

i n s ize o r d esign f rom

t he

o ther

S outh H ouse e ntranceways, b ut i ts l intel, t he t wo c apitals o f t he c orner p ilasters, a nd t he b ases, w ere n icely o rnamented a rchitectura lly - s omething r are e nough i n t he p rivate c onstruction a t S hivta.

1 57

T he t ower ( 3.70 x 4 .40 m etres i n s ize) w as s olidly b uilt, b ut i ts w a lls a re n o t hicker t han t he o ther e xterior w alls o f t he s truct ure ( 0.60 - 0 .70 m etres). T he c onstruction i s o f l arge, r ough s tone, v ery c rudely d ressed. O nly t he p ilasters, t he c apitals t he b ases, a nd t he 1 5).

l intel a re b uilt o f c arefully d ressed, h ewn s tone ( see f ig. 1 4, S outh o f t he t ower, a s w e h ave m entioned, i s t he m ain e ntrance;

y et, o n i ts n orth s ide, t here i s a n a rched e ntranceway l eading t o t he c ourtyard. I t s hould b e n oted t hat t he t wo e ntrances a re n ot s et o n t he s ame a xis ( see f ig. 1 , 1 4, 1 5). W ithin t he t ower, o n i ts s outh s ide, a b arrel a rch h as b een p reserved i n t oto, s till b earing t he o riginal r oofing s labs w hich r est u pon i t a nd a re s et i nto t he t ower's s outh w all ( see f ig. 1 6). F rom t he t ower, o ne e nters d irectly i nto t he r ectangular c ourty ard ( 6.20 x 1 0.30 m etres i n s ize) w hich i s p aved w ith i rregularlys ized s tone s labs. I n t he c entre o f t he c ourtyard i s t he o pening f or d rawing w ater f rom a c istern. T races o f t he s tone d rainage g utters p rove t hat t he r ain-water w as c hannelled f rom t he c ourtyard a rea a nd t he r oofs o f t he s urrounding r ooms i nto t he c istern ( see f ig. 1 7). A ttached t o t he c ourtyard 's w est w all t here w as a s taircase s et u pon a n i nclined s tone r amp ( see f ig. 1 8). T he s tairs r ose f rom s outh t o n orth. O nly t he s even b ottom s tairs h ave b een p reserved i n s itu, b ut o ne c an r econstruct t he c ontinuation o f t he s taircase s et u pon t wo b arrel v aults: t he l ower o ne o n t he s outh a nd t he h igher o ne n orth o f i t ( see f ig. 1 , 3 ). W ithin t he t ower i tself, t here w as n o s taircase, w hich p reserved i ts s ecurity v alue a nd s aved i nterior

s pace,

l imited

t o b egin w ith. O nly t he w est p art o f t he c ourtyard w as u nroofed, w hereas t he e astern s ection ( about a t hird o f i ts a rea) w as r oofed o ve . T his p remise i s b ased o n t he e xistence o f t hree p ilasters: a s quare p illar i n t he c entre o f t he c ourtyard, e ast o f t he a ccess t o t he c istern, a nd t wo h alf-pilasters a ffixed t o t he s outhern a nd n orthern w alls o f t he c ourtyard ( see f ig. 1 , 3 , 1 7, 2 0, 2 1). A d ouble a rcade w as f ormed, a nd b etween i t a nd t he e astern w all a p orch w as b uilt t hrough w hich i t w as p ossible, o n t he s econd s torey l evel, t o p ass t o a ll p arts o f t he h ouse .

W e

M amshit

s aw

a s imilar a rchitectural

s olution i n b uilding

I

a t

( 32).

T here

a re s egments o f

s toneware a nd e ven p arts o f

a gricultural

i nstallations s trewn a bout t he S outh H ouse c ourtyard, b ut t here i s n o k nowing w here t hey w ere f ound o r i f t hey a re a ttributable t o t his h ouse ( see f ig. 1 7, 1 8). I n t he c ourtyard 's n orthwest c orner, a n e ntranceway w as f ound w hich l eads t o t he e ast w ing o f W est H ouse ( see f ig. 1 , 1 9). B ecause o f t he f ine p reservation o f t his e ntranceway, o ne c an r esconstruct w ith a g reat d egree o f c ertitude t hat t his s ection o f t he c ourtyard w all

w as

o riginally c losed a nd w as o pened o nly a t

s ome

l ater

s tage.

I t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he p utting i n o f t his e ntrance c ons tituted o ne o f t he m ajor c hanges i n t he S outh H ouse p lan w hen i t w as c onverted t o b ecome p art o f G overnor's H ouse. I n t he w all e nclosing t he c ourtyard o n t he n drth, e ntrances w ere f ound t o t wo r ooms: t he n ortheast b eing t he s maller ( see f ig. 1 , 2 1, r oom n o. 1 04; 3 ,80 x 4 .90 m etres i n s ize) a nd t he n orthwest o ne t he l arger ( see f ig. 1 , 2 0, r oom n o. 1 03, 4 .50 x 4 .80 m etres i n s ize).

1 58

T he l atter i s w ell p reserved. B oth r ooms w ere r oofed b y t hree a rches e ach . I n s pite o f t he f act t hat t he a rches h ave c rumbled, i n r oom n o. 1 03, i n s itu, r oof s labs h ave r emained a ttached t o t he n orthern w all o f t he h ouse. I t i s w orth n oting t hat t his w all s till r eaches a h eight o f a bout s even m etres ( see f ig. 2 0. T he c olumns o f t he e nt rances t o t hese t wo r ooms a re b uilt o f c arefully h ewn a nd d ressed s tone b ut a re u ndecorated. I t w ould s eem t hat t he e ntrances w ere r oofed w ith l intels i n t he f orm o f s mooth, s tone b eams. T he r ooms' w a lls a re m ade o f l arge, u nhewn s tones. T heir t hickness i s q uite u niform: 0 .60 - 0 .70 m etres. T he w alls a re d ouble-faced w ith s mall, u nhewn s tones m ixed w ith m ortar b etween t hem . T here i s n o d oubt t hat t he n orth w ing o f t he h ouse w as a t

l east

t wo s toreys h igh.

T he n orth w all o f r oom n o. 1 04 w as c ompletely d estroyed a nd t oday i t s eems t hat i t h ad h ad a n e ntrance l eading t o N orth H ouse ( see f ig. 1 , 2 3). B ecause o f t he d estruction, i t i s i mpossible t o c heck w hether, a t s ome l ater s tage i n S outh H ouse's e xistence, w hen i t w as t ransformed i nto a c ommunity b uilding, a d ecision h ad b een t aken t o p ut i n a n e ntranceway i n o rder t o c onnect t he t wo h ouses. O ne m ay r easonably a ssume t hat t he n orth w all o f r oom n o. 1 04, w hich i s a lso t he e xterior w all o f t he h ouse, w as o riginally c ompletely s olid, w ith n o c onnection b etween t he t wo p rivate d wellings. A t t he n orthwest c orner o f r oom n o. 1 03, a l arge n iche h as b een p reserved, b uilt o f l arge s tone s labs. T he h orizontal g rooves o n b oth s ides o f t he n iche v erify t hat i t w as d ivided i nto t wo s ections b y a t hin , s tone s lab. O ne m ay a ssume t hat i t f unctioned a s a n o rdinary w all c loset. T he s outhern a nd e astern w alls h ad a dditional, n iches ( see f ig. 1 ).

s maller

T he e ast w ing o f S outh H ouse i s l ess w ell p reserved a nd o ne c an s ense t hat i t s aw m any c hanges. U nfortunately, t his w ing h as b een o nly p artially e xcavated, w hich h as m ade i t d ifficult f or u s t o r econs truct i ts o riginal p lan . I n

s pite

o f

t he f act t hat t he e astern w all o f S outh

H ouse

i s

a lmost c ompletely d estroyed, w e d o n ot b elieve t hat S outh H ouse o rigin ally h ad a ny e ntrances f rom i ts e ast-wing r ooms o pening o nto E ast S treet ( see f ig. 1 , r ooms n o. 1 06-108). B ut i t i s v ery l ogical t o a ssume t hat i n t his s ection o f t he h ouse, a lso, a s i n t he o ther s ections, s ignificant c hanges t ook p lace w hen t he r esidential b uilding b ecame a c ommunity o ne. T he m ain c hange h ere, i n o ur o pinion, i s i n t he s tatus o f r oom n o. 1 06 ( 4.20 x 4 .40 m etres i n s ize) w hich o rigin ally w as a c overed w ing o f t he c entral c ourtyard ( 33). F rom t his r oom i t w as p ossible t o g o n orth t o r oom n o. 1 05 ( 2.80 x 5 .00 m etres i n s ize), w hich, t oday, i s v ery m uch d estroyed. A n e ntranceway w as p ut t hrough t he e astern w all o f r oom n o.106 t oward E ast S treet t o g ive c onvenient a ccess t o G overnor's H ouse f om t he e ast. W ith t he o pening u p o f t his e ntranceway, a d ividing w all w as p ut u p t o s eparate r oom n o. 1 06 f rom t he c ourtyard ( 102). T he s etting u p o f t his w all c reated a c overed v estibule a llowing f or t he s upervision o f a ll t hose e ntering G overnor's H ouse f rom t he e ast. I t i s w orth n oticing t hat t his e ntranceway w as o n t he s ame a xis a s t hat o pened u p i n t he w est w all o f S outh H ouse a nd m ade f or c onvenient a ccess ' t o W est H ouse ( see f ig.

1 ). S outh

o f

r oom

n o.

1 06

t here a re t wo r ooms w hich c omprise

1 59

t he

s outheast w ing o f t he h ouse ( see f ig. 1 ; r ooms n o. 1 07-108). T hese r ooms h ave n ot b een e xcavated a t a ll, s o t hat a ll w e h ave b een a b le t o d o i s d etermine t heir d imensions ( see f ig. 1 ). T he r oom d esignated i n o ur p lan a s n o. 1 09 e xtends b eyond t he s outh f acade o f t he h ouse, b ut i s a ttached t o i ts s outheast c orner. T he r oom i s t rapezoidal i n s hape ( 4 .80 x 6 .20 m etres i n s ize) a nd c learly a ppears t o b e alater a ddit ion. R oom n o. 1 09 w as b uilt a t t he e xpense o f t he G overnor H ouse's t errain, w ith i ts e ast w all c ircling s outh-southeast, f ollowing t he c ontour o f E ast S treet. T he w est w all o f r oom n o. 1 09 w as b uilt p erpendicularly t o t he

t ower's

f acade a nd c loses o ff G overnor's

H ouse

S quare o n t he e ast. T his w all h as a n o pening ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 1 4). I t i s i mpossible t o d etermine w hether t here h ad b een a p assage b etween r ooms n o. 1 09 a nd n o. 1 08 ( the l atter b elonging t o t he o riginal S outh H ouse). O pinion d ictates t hat t he c onstruction o f r oom n o. 1 09 w as c onnected t o t he p rocess o f c onverting S outh H ouse i nto t he m ain c omponent o f G overnor's H ouse. I f w e e xamine t he p lan o f S outh H ouse, w ithout r oom n o. 1 09, w e s ee b efore u s a t ypical B yzantine d welling, w ith o ne e ntrance, a c entral c ourtyard a nd a c onnected a rea. T he c ourtyard h as a c istern a nd a s taircase. T he n orth w ing h as t hree r esidential r ooms w ith t wo m ore i n t he e ast w ing. E ntry t o t he h ouse w as v ia t he t ower, s imilar t o t hat o f P ool H ouse, f or e xample. I n f act, t he t wo h ouses a re a like i n t heir p lan, t heir m ethod o f c onstruction a nd t heir d imensions ( 34). 2 .

N orth H ouse

( see f ig.

1 ,

r ooms n o.

2 01-205)

N orth H ouse i s a t t he n ortheast c orner o f t he c omplex, c losed o ff o n t he s outh b y S outh H ouse, d escribed a bove; o n t he e ast b y E ast S treet; a nd, o n t he w est b y C entral C hurch. N orth o f i t r ise m ounds o f r ubble, b ut i t i s c lear t hat t he h ouse d id n ot e xtend i n t hat d irection a t

a bout

N orth h alf

a ll

( see f ig.

1 ,

2 ,

3 ).

H ouse i s s mall. I ts a rea ( 104 s quare m etres) t hat o f S outh H ouse a nd l ess t han a t hird t hat

i s o f

o nly W est

H ouse ( see f ig. 1 , 2 2) ( 35). O riginally, N orth H ouse f unctioned i ndependently w ith n o c onnection a t a ll t o t he h ouse s outh o f i t. I ts s ole e ntrance w as

f rom E ast S treet,

t hrough a n arrow c orridor l eading

t o t he c onnecting c ourtyard ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 2 3). T he N orth H ouse c ourtyard, l ike t hat o f i ts n eighbour t o t he s outh, i s p aved w ith i rregular s tone s labs. O n t he s outh, t he c ourtyard i s c losed o ff b y t he n orthern w all o f S outh H ouse. T his w all, a s w e h ave s aid, r ises t o ah eight o f s even m etres ( see f ig. 2 4). T he c ourtyard 's w est w all h as b een a lmost c ompletely d estroyed. I t i s p ossible t hat t his d est ruction t ook p lace d uring t he e rection o f C entral C hurch. T wo e nt rances a re s till d iscernable i n t his w all ( see f ig. 1 ). L ogic d ict ates t hat t hese e ntranceways l ed t o t he w est w ing o f N orth H ouse. T his w ing w as r azed, a s w e h ave s aid, w ith t he b uilding o f t he c hurch. T here i s a s taircase a ffixed t o t he c ourtyard 's n orthern w all w hich l ed t o t he s econd s torey o f t he h ouse's n orth w ing. T his s taircase w as l ed

i n t he s hape o f a " gamma".

T hree s tairs r emained i n s itu,

f rom t he s outh n orthward t o a r ectangu lar a rea.

F rom t here

w hich t he

s tairs t urned a t a 9 0-degree a ngle w estward a nd r ose p arallel t o t he c ourtyard 's n orthern w all o n a n i nclined r amp s et o n t wo b arrel v aults l ike t he s taircase

i n t he S outh H ouse c ourtyard ( see

1 60

f ig.

1 ).

T he n orthern c ourtyard w all i s p ierced b y t wo e ntrances l eading t o t wo r ooms: t he n orthwest o ne ( see f ig. 1 ; r oom n o. 2 02, 4 ,00 x 4 .40 m etres i n s ize) a nd t he n ortheast o ne ( see f ig. 1 ; r oom n o. 2 03, m easuring 3 .50 x 4 .60 m etres). B oth r ooms w ere r oofed b y t hree a rches e ach . T he e ntrance t o t he n orthwest r oom ( 202) i s w ell p reserved. T he l intel, i n t he f orm o f a s mooth s tone b eam, r ests o n t he c apitals o f t wo c orner p ilasters i n t he s hape o f a t rapezoid, d ecorated, o n t heir l ower s ections, w ith r ectangular " teeth" c hiselled o ut i n d eep r elief ( 36). E ast o f r oom n o. 2 03 t here i s a nother r oom ( see f ig. 1 ; r oom n o. 2 04, m easuring 3 .50 x 4 .80 m etres), r oofed b y t wo a rches. I n t he s outheast c orner o f t he c ourtyard w e h ave t he o pening t o t he c istern f or d rawing w ater. I t i s s till p ossible t o m ake o ut t he s tone c hannel c oming t o t he c istern f rom t he n orth. T his c istern, a lso, h as n ot y et b een i nvestigated. I n s pite o f i ts r elatively m eagre d imens ions, t he p lanning a nd n ature o f N orth H ouse's c onstruction a re i n n o w ay i nferior t o

t hose o f

3 .

( see f ig.

W est H ouse

W est H ouse d escribed a bove.

i ts s outhern n eighbour. 1 ,

r ooms n o.

3 01-315)

l ies s outh o f C entral C hurch a nd w est o f S outh H ouse, I t i s b ounded o n t he w est b y W est S treet a nd o n t he

s outh b y G overnor's H ouse P laza. I t i s 3 40 m etres s quare a nd c onstit uted t he g reatest a nd m ost c omplex s egment o f t he G overnor's H ouse s tructure. W ith t he y ears, W est H ouse, t oo u nderwent s ome r adical c hanges w hich a ltered i ts o riginal a ppearance c onsiderably. T he s outh w all o f W est H ouse i s a d irect c ontinuation o f t he s outh w all o f S outh H ouse, i ts e astern n eighbour. T he h ouse's c entral e ntrance, w hich w as i n t his w all, h as b een w ell p reserved a nd w as a rched. O pposite t his e ntrance, n ow , t here i s a l ong c orridor w hich i s r oofed b y t hree a rches ( see f ig. 1 , 2 5; r oom n o. 3 01, m easuring 2 .80 x 5 ,30 m etres). T his c orridor's s outhern e ntrance e xtended t he m ain e ntrance o f S outh H ouse s outhward, o nce a gain a t t he e xpense o f G overnor's H ouse P laza, a nd s ignificantly a ltered t he s outh f acade o f W est H ouse ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 2 5). T he e ast w all o f t he c orridor ( which c an b e c onsidered a s ort o f v estibule), c arried t hree a rches o n p ilast ers a nd n eeded s trengthening i n o rder t o d istribute t he l ateral p ressure o f t he a rches; t herefore, a t hick s upporting w all w as b uilt h ere, ( see f ig. 1 , 1 4, 2 5). T his s imple a rchitectural s olution i s f ound i n a f ew o ther s tructures a t S hivta. W est o f r oom n o. 3 01 a nd s outh

o f

t he s outhern w all o f

t he H ouse,

t here i s a c onnected c ourt-

y ard i n t he f orm o f a n i rregular t rapezoid ( 302,

5 3.50 s quare

m etres

l arge). T his e ncroaches u pon G overnor's H ouse P laza a nd i ts w estern c ontour f ollows t hat o f W est S treet ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 3 ,). T his c ourty ard i s s imilar i n f orm a nd c onstruction t o r oom n o. 1 09 w hich i s a ttached t o t he s outheast c orner o f S outh H ouse's f acade w hich, i ts elf, b elongs t o l ater b uilding a dditions. T hese t wo s tructural a ddit ions p rovide a c ertain u nity t o t he s outhern f acade o f H ouse. I t w ould s eem, h owever, t hat t his w as n ot t he p lanning b y t he l ocal a rchitects b ut, r ather, a q uite o utcome

o f e xpanding t he b uilding i nto t he

i n t his a rea O n

l ast

G overnor's r esult o f a ccidental

r emaining o pen

s pace

( 37).

e ntering t he c ourtyard t hrough t he s outh'entrance

( see

f ig.

1 ; 3 14, w hich i s 5 .30 x 8 .40 m etres), o ne f inds h imself, f irst, i n a n arrow c orridor b etween t wo s tone w alls: t hat w hich c loses r oom n o. 3 13

o n t he e ast a nd t he w all

o f t he

s mall r oom ( 315)

1 61

o n t he w est

( see

f ig. 1 , 2 6). T he W est H ouse c ourtyard, o riginally, w as r ectangular a nd v ery w ide, a nd t here i s n o d oubt t hat r oom n o. 3 15, w hich i s r oofed b y t wo a rches, a nd t he i nstallation w hen y ou e nter i t, a re l ater a dditions. T he c ourtyard w as p aved w ith i rregular s tone s labs, s imilar t o t he p aving o f t he c ourtyards o f t he t wo n eighbouring h ouses. T here a re t wo e ntrances i n t he c ourtyard n orth w all w hich l ead t o t wo r ooms. T he n orthern e ntrance l eads t o r oom n o. 3 09 ( 4.90 x 4 .90 m etres) r oofed b y t hree a rches. R oom n o. 3 10, a djacent t o i t o n t he e ast, i s n arrower b y h alf ( 2.40 x 4 .90 m etres) a nd a lso r oofed b y t hree a rches ( see f ig. 2 7). T he e ast w all o f t he r oom i s c ertainly n ot o riginal. I ts f orm o f c onstruction d iffers f rom t hat o f t he o ther w alls o f t he n orth w ing. I n t he w all d ividing r ooms n o. 3 09 a nd n o. 3 10, t hat

t here w as a n e ntrance w hich w e f ound c losed o ff. I t c ould b e t he c losing o ff o f t his e ntrance h as t o d o w ith t he a lterations

w hich w ere m ade i n t he n ortheast w ing o f t he h ouse w here t here w ere r ooms: n o. 3 10, n b. 3 11 a nd n o. 3 12 ( see f ig. 1 ). B etween r ooms n o. 3 11 a nd n o. 3 12 t here i s a t hick, l ow w all b uilt o f t hree l ayers o f l arge, u nhewn, r oughly-dressed s tones. O n t op o f t his w all, i n s itu, t here h ave r emained t wo m ighty p illars a nd t he b eginning o f t he a rches. A c lose i nspection o f t his w all r aises t he p ossibility t hat w e h ave h ere t he r emains o f a s table, o r m ore p recisely, a w all b earing t roughs s uch a s w e c leared i n t he s outh o f S hivta ( see f ig. 1 , 1 8, 2 7). T his s table i s c ombined w ith a d welling f ound i n t he c omplex w hich e xtends s outhwest o f t he D ouble P ool ( 38). I n f act, t he m ethod o f c onstruction o f t he l ow w all, a nd t he f orm o f t he p illars, b ear a g reat s imilarity t o t hose o f t he S table H ouse i n t he s outh o f S hivta. T here i s n o k nowing w hat t he s ize o f t he W est H ouse s table w as. c ould b e t hat h ere w e h ave a s mall s table l ike t hat a t S hivta, b ut

I t i t

i s a lso p lausible t hat w e a re t alking o f a l arger s table s uch a s t he o ne i n b uilding X II a t M amshit ( 39). H ence, i t i s r easonable t o p osit t hat t he e ntire e ast w ing ( i.e., r ooms n o. 3 11, n o. 3 12 n o. 3 13) o riginally w as t he s pace o f t he s table. T he r emoval o f t he d irt a nd r ubble f rom r oom n o. 3 13, w here i t h ad b een p iled u p b y t he C olt E xpedition e xcavators, m ay p rovide a n a nswer t o t his f ascinating m atter ( see f ig. 1 , 2 8, 2 9). T he d estroyed c ondition o f r oom n o.313, a lmost c ompletely c overed b y d ebris, t he c ollapse o f t he t roughs s labs a nd t he v aults t hat w ere a bove t hem - a ll o f t hese t hings m ake i dentif ication m ost d ifficult. E ven i f o ur t heory a bout t he s table b e i ncorrect, t he c urrent c ondition o f t his e xpanse c onfirms t he f act t hat t his s ection o f W est H ouse u nderwent e vident c hanges. I t c ould a lso b e t hat t he s table w as e liminated a t a r ather e arly s tage i n t he H ouse's e xistence, a nd t hen t he e ntire e xpanse h as c hanged. B ut, b y t he s ame t oken, i t i s p lausible t hat t he s table w as e liminated w hen a n e ntranceway w as o pened t hrough t he w est w all o f S outh H ouse. E ven t he w all c losing t he e ast s ide o f r oom n o. 3 12 c learly s eems t o h ave b een a l ater a ddition a nd c ould e ven h ave b een p ut u p w hen t he s table w as r emoved. B etween r oom n o. 3 12 a nd t he c ourtyard ( 314) a n i nstallation w as s et u p s imilar i n f orm t o t hat f ound a t t he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 3 15. W e h ave n ot s ucceeded i n c larifying w hat t hese i nstallations w ere. R oom n o. 3 13 ( measuring 4 .50 x 8 .40 m etres), a s s tated, s erved t he C olt E xpedition's e xcavators a s a d umping g round f or t he d irt a nd s tone

o f

t hing a bove,

a t a ll a bout i t. I n o ur d iscussion o f C entral C hurch ( see p p. 1 53-154) w e h ave d ealt a t l ength w ith t he c hanges w hich

t he o ther r ooms

b efell t he n orthwest

s o t hat

i t

i s

i mpossible t o a scertain

s ector o f W est H ouse.

1 62

H ere,

a ny-

l et u s o nly m ention

t hat r oom n o. 3 08 c onstituted t he n orthwest r oom o f W est H ouse. C entral C hurch w as e rected, i t w as s plit o ff f rom W est H ouse. r oom 's r oom

w estern w all w as o pened w hile n o.

3 05,

w as s ealed.

i ts o nly e xit

t o t he

T he r oom w as f illed w ith d irt

A fter T he

s outh,

t o

i n o rder t o

r aise t he f loor l evel t o t hat o f t he C hurch f loor. R ooms n o. 3 06 a nd n o. 3 07, a djacent t o W est H ouse's w est w all, w ere a dded, i t w ould s eem, a s w ere r ooms n o. 1 09 a nd n o. 3 02 a t t he c omplex 's S outh f acade, w hen t he b uilding, a rea. I n

d wellings w ere c onverted i nto a c ommunal-administrative a nd i t w as n ecessary t o a dd t o t he e xisting, a lready b uilt f act, t here w as a n a vailable a rea b etween t he n orthwest w all

o f G overnor's H ouse a nd W est S treet ( see f ig. 1 , 2 ). T he t wo a forem entioned r ooms h ave n ot b een e xcavated a nd a re f ull o f r ubble s o t hat i t h as n ot b een p ossible t o a scertain w hat t hey m ay h ave b een. T he w est w ing o f t he h ouse h ad t hree r ooms. T he n orthernmost o f t hem n o. 3 05, 3 .90 x 4 .50 m etres i n s ize) h as b een w ell p reserved. I t i s r oofed b y t wo a rches. I ts n orth w all h ad a n e ntrance t o t he c orner r oom ( no. 3 08). S outh o f i t i s a r oom o pening o nto t he c ourtyard ( room n o. 3 04, m easuring 4 .00 x 4 .00 m etres). T his r oom s erved t he C olt E xpedition d iggers f or c learing t he d irt a nd, t herefore, i t w as i mpossible t o f ind o ut a bout i t, w as r oofed l ike t he r oom n ext t o

b ut i t c an b e a ssumed t hat i t, t oo, i t o n t he n orth ( see f ig. 1 , 2 6).

T he e ntrance t o r oom n o. 3 03 ( 1.80 x 4 .00 m etres) i n t he s outhw est c orner o f t he h ouse w as v ia r oom n o. 3 15. B ecause t he w all c losing o ff t he c ourtyard o n t he w est w as d estroyed, i t i s n ot p oss ible t o f ix t he e xact l ocation o f t he e ntranceway b etween r ooms n o. 3 03 a nd n o. 3 15. T he b asement o f r oom n o. 3 03 h as b een p reserved. I ts c eiling h as s urvived i ntact a nd i s m ade o f s tone s labs r esting o n t wo a rches. T his i s o ne o f t he c omplete a nd b eautiful e xamples o f t his s ystem o f r oofing w hich w e h ave f ound a t S hivta ( 40). T he d est ruction

o f

t he h ouse's s outh w all a nd t he r ubble

i n r oom n o.

3 02 d o

n ot a llow f or a p recise r econstruction o f t he s outhwest c orner o f W est H ouse. I t

i s w orthwhile n oting t hat t here i s n o c istern a t W est

H ouse.

T he a bsence o f a c istern a t a p rivate d welling i s v ery r are. W e h ave l ocated t hree s uch h ouses i n t he n orth o f S hivta. H ence, t he o verw helming m ajority o f t he d wellings i n t he c ity h ad a p rivate c istern. I t

i s

p ossible

t hat

t he c istern f ound

i n t he C hurch

a rea,

i n

t he

w estern c orner o f t he c entre h all, h ad b elonged, i n i ts t ime, t o t he f ourth h ouse o f t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex. T his h ouse, a s w e h ave s aid, w as r azed i n o rder t o e nable t he e rection o f C entral C hurch. I t i s,

t herefore,

s erved

r easonable t o a ssume t hat,

b oth t he d wellings

i n i ts t ime,

o ne c istern

i n t he c omplex.

T he m anner a nd t ype o f W est H ouse's c onstruction a re m ost

s imi-

l ar t o t hose o f t he t wo o ther h ouses w hich w e h ave d escribed. W est H ouse s urpasses t hem i n s ize a nd i n t he c omplexity o f t he c hanges w hich i t u nderwent w hen i t w as t ransformed f rom a r esidential d welling i nto

t he m ajor c omponent o f a c ommunity b uilding,

t ional c hanges C .

a nd i n

t he

i n i ts

l ayout w ith t he e rection o f t he C hurch.

f act,

o ur t heory a bout

a ddi-

S UMMARY I f,

c orrect

i n

( which c annot

b e

t he e xistence o f

s ubstantiated w ithout

1 63

t he s table

s ubstantial

i s

e xcavation

o f t he e ast w ing o f t he h ouse), t hen w e m ust l ook u pon W est H ouse a s s imilar i n i ts e ssence t o S table H ouse i n t he s outhern p art o f S hivta, i .e., a s a h ouse c ombining a d ual f unction: d welling a nd s table. T he v ery e xistence o f s uch a h ouse i n t he n orthern p art o f S hivta, f airly f ar r emoved f rom t he a ncient c entre o f t he N abatean s ettlement w hich e xtended s outh o f D ouble P ool ( see f ig. 1 4, p . 5 7), r aises t wo t houghts

a bout t he N abatean p ast o f S hivta:

( a)

i t

i s p ossible t hat

t he N abatean s ettlement s pread m uch b eyond t he a ncient c ore o f s ettlem ent s outh o f D ouble P ool; ( b) o ne m ust r e-examine w hether, i n f act, t he s tables a t S hivta b elong t o t he e arly s ettlement o f t he c ity, i .e., t o t he f irst t wo c enturies o f t he C ommon E ra. I n o ur c hronological d iscussion o f S table H ouse, w e r aised d oubts a bout t he " Nabatean p ast" o f t he h ouse a nd i ts s table, a nd i nsisted t hat i t w as n ot e arlier t han t he f ourth c entury C .E. W e e mphasized, a lso, t hat i t f unctioned a s a s table a pparently t ill t he f ifth c entury C .E., i .e., w ell i nto t he B yzantine p eriod ( 41). T his i s r ea lly a d eviation f rom o ur p resent d iscussion a bout G overnor 's H ouse, w hich

b ut a re

s ettlement T he

w e d eem i t a ppropriate t o r eview a nd r aise t he c rucial f or a n u nderstanding o f t he d evelopment i n t he N egev, m ost

i n g eneral,

a nd i n S hivta,

s ignificant c hanges m ade

q uestions o f u rban

i n p articular.

i n t he t hree d wellings

w hich

c onstitute t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex w ere r elated t o o pening u p m eans o f a ccess b etween t he h ouses t hemselves. T his, m ore t han a nyt hing e lse t hat w as d one, s ymbolized, i n e ssence, t he c onversion o f t hree r esidences i nto a s ingle c ommunal-administrative b uilding. T he m ost o utstanding c haracteristic o f a B yzantine d welling i n S hivta a nd t he o ther N egev c ities, i s i ts b eing c ompletely c losed o ff, w ith e ntry t hrough a s ingle e ntrance o nly. W hen a dditional e ntrances e xist, t hey a re i nter-related t hrough o ther f unctions ( not r esident ia l), s uch a s c ommerce ( see t he s hops a t P ool H ouse) o r h orse-breedi ng t he

( see t he s tables a t S table H ouse). T his c losing o ff c haracterizes B yzantine d welling b oth a s a s eparate h ouse a nd a s p art o f a

c rowded,

u rban

c omplex.

I t

i s e xpressed b y t he t otal

a bsence

o f

w indows a nd b y t he c entral f unction o f t he c ourtyard w hich, f or t he m ost p art, i s r ectangular i n s hape, w ith t he g reater p art o f i t p aved a nd u nroofed. A ll r ooms, b oth o n t he f irst a nd s econd s toreys, o pen t o i t. M ost o f t he d aily, h ousehold c hores a re p erformed i n t he c ourtyard. c istern, f ound.

T here

i t

i s

t hat

t he o pening f or d rawing w ater f rom

t he

t he s taircase a nd v arious i nstallations a re u sually t o b e T he c ourtyard a rea s erves a s t he s ource o f l ight a nd a ir f or

t he r ooms r anged a round i t. F rom

t his

w e c an u nderstand t hat w ith t he o pening u p o f

a ddi-

t ional e ntrances a nd t he c reation o f a n i nterior c onnection b etween t he t hree c ourtyards t o t he t hree d wellings i n t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex, t hey c eased t o f ulfill t heir o riginal p urpose a nd b ecame a c ommunity b uilding. T here w ere f our e ntrances t o G overnor's H ouse: t wo f rom E ast S treet a nd t wo f rom t he s outh s ide, H ouse P laza ( see f ig. 1 , 2 ). G overnor's H ouse h ad, t hree c ourtyards a nd t wenty-six r ooms. I f, i n f act,

f rom G overnor 's a s w e h ave s aid, t he e ast w ing o f

W est H ouse h ad s erved o riginally a s a s table, i t w as a bolished i n t he v ery p rocess o f c onverting t he c omplex

e ffectively i nto G over-

n or's H ouse, i f n ot e arlier. T he a rea o f t he f ormer s table w as d iv ided i nto t hree r ooms, w ith r oom n o. 3 12 s erving, i n e ffect, a s t he

1 64

p assageway f rom t he c ourtyard o f S outh H ouse H ouse ( no. 3 14) ( see f ig. 1 , 2 ).

c ess

( no.

1 02)

t o

t hat o f W est

A dditional c hanges m ade t o t he t hree d wellings d uring t he p roo f c onverting t o a p ublic b uilding a re e xpressed i n t he s truc-

t ural a dditions, p rimarily t o t he s outhern f acade o f G overnor's H ouse, a t t he e xpense o f p ublic l and ( see f ig. 1 , 2 , 3 ). I t i s d ifficult t o i magine t hat p rivate h ome-owners w ould h ave d ared t o e ncroach u pon t he p ublic p laza a s d id t he G overnor's H ouse e xpansion.

A c lose l ook

a t

t he a erial p hotographs o f S hivta c onfirm t hat t he s treets w ere n ot d isturbed, a nd i n s pite o f t he f act t hat m ost o f t hem a re w inding, t heir w idth i s u niform a nd t here i s n o e vidence o f a ny e ncroachment u pon t hem b y p rivate c onstruction ( see f ig. 3 , p . 4 9). I n o ur d iscussion, w e h ave a lso i ndicated a n umber o f s ignific ant c hanges m ade i n t he p lans o f t he h ouses t hemselves i n t he c ourse o f a dapting t hem t o t heir n ew p urpose. W e s tressed t he f act t hat t he l ack o r a ny r eal a rchaeological i nformation h as m ade i t d ifficult t o r econstruct t he c hronology o f t he m ajor c hanges a nd i t i s n atural t hat o ur

d iscussion h as,

a nalysis. b rought H ouse. a dded

f irst a nd f oremost,

d epended u pon a rchitectural

W e s tressed t he p oint t hat t he e rection o f C entral

C hurch

a bout s ignificant c hanges i n t he w est w ing o f G overnor's R ooms n o. 3 06, n o. 3 07 a nd n o. 3 08 w ere t aken f rom i t a nd t o

t he C hurch.

W e a lso s tressed t he f act t hat t here

c onnection w hatsoever b etween C entral C hurch a nd G overnor's B oth s tructures f unctioned a bsolutely i ndependently.

w as

n o

H ouse.

T o t he b est o f o ur k nowledge, G overnor's H ouse i s t he o nly c ommunal-administrative b uilding i n S hivta a nd p erhaps i n a ll o f t he B yzantine N egev . I n t he N egev c ities a s w e k now t hem t oday, w ith t he e xception o f t he c hurches a nd t he c omplexes c onnected w ith t hem , a ll t he o ther s tructures a re p rivate d wellings. T he a bsence o f p ublic b uildings i n t he B yzantine N egev, w ith t he e xception o f c ultic a nd m iliatary c onstruction, r aises q uestions a bout t he c haracter o f t he s ettlements o f S hivta a nd h er s ister c ities. W hen w e d escribed t he c ity " skyline" o f B yzantine S hivta i n i ts t ime, w e e mphasized t he f act t hat f rom a n a rchitectural p oint o f v iew t he c hurches a re c omplete i ntruders u pon t he c ity l andscape ( 42). T heir p lans, t he m ethod o f t heir c onstruction a nd t heir c omposition, w ere d esigned a nd d etermined f ar f rom t he N egev , w ere b rought a s f inished, f ully m ature c oncepts, a nd d o not e xpress a ny l ocal d evelopment o r t radition. T hus, t he b asilica c hurch w ith i ts c haracteristic c omponents w as i mported t o t he N egev a nd " grafted" u pon t he u nique, l ocal a rchitectural l andscape. W e a lso s tressed t hat t he C hurch a s a n i nstitution s erved a s a s ource o f a uthority a nd i nspiration n ot o nly i n m atters o f r eligion b ut i n a dministrative m atters a nd e conomic l ife a s w ell. O utstanding i s t he i nvolvement o f t he c hurches i n t he f ull g amut o f a gricultural a ffairs a s b oth t he w ritten s ources a nd t he a rchaeological f indings c onfirm ( 43). T he B yzantine N egev p opulation w as m ainly S emitic, d escendants o f t he N abateans, m asters o f t he r egion b efore C hristianity b ecame e nsconced i n t he N egev. T his p opulace, s tarting f rom t he s econd c entury C . t ure a nd

E ., b ased t he m ain p ortion o f i ts l ivelihood u pon a griculi t i s r easonable t o a ssume t hat t he b eginning o f S hivta i s

c onnected w ith t his s tage o f N abatean h istory. T hus w e m ust s ee t he p opulation o f S hivta a s b asically a r ural o ne, w ithout a ny u rban

1 65

t radition. N abatean M amshit, o f t he s econd a nd t hird c enturies C .E., a s w e k now i t t oday w ith t he c onclusion o f t he o n-site e xcavations, a ccurately r eflects t he e ssence a nd c haracter o f t he N egev s ettlements o f t his p eriod, w hen t he p rocess w as j ust b eginning o f c onverting t he r ural s ettlement o f i ndependent f arms, c lose a nd i solated o ne f rom t he o ther, i nto a k ind o f u rban o ne. O ne m ay r easonably a ssume t hat a t t his p eriod S hivta, t oo, w as m ade u p o f i solated, s cattered h ouses s outh a nd s outheast o f D ouble P ool. W ith t he s olid e stab lishment o f B yzantine r ule a nd t he s uccess o f C hristianity, t he L and o f I srael, i ncluding t he N egev, e ntered u pon a

p eriod o f f lowering g rowth .

o ne m ay c entre o f T he

T he N egev 's p opulation i ncreased

l ogically s uppose t hat t here a lso w as a m igration t he c ountry s outhward. C hurch h ad a n i mportant r ole

i n t he p rocess o f

f rom

a nd t he

s olidifying

t hese v illages i nto u rban-like s ettlements a nd i nto r eal c ities ( 44). T he a bsence o f o ther p ublic b uildings, b eside t he c hurches, i n o ur o pinion i ndicates t he f ollowing t wo t hings: ( a) t he a bsence o f a g overnmental-urban t radition, s omething n atural a nd u nderstood w hen d ealing w ith r ural s ettlements s uch a s m ost o f t he N egev s ettlements w ere u ntil t he w aning d ays o f t he f ourth c entury C .E.; ( b) t he c entral p lace o f t he C hurch a s a s ource o f a uthority a nd i nspiration a lso i n m atters a dministrative-communal a nd e conomic. T he i mportance o f G overnor's H ouse c an n ow b e u nderstood. I t m ay w ell b e t hat i n t he v ery l inkage o f S hivta's r esidents t o a n u rban-governmental r ather t han e cclesiastical c entre, w e h ave a h int a bout t he s ocial p rocesses w hich t ook p lace a mong t he p opulation t he N egev 's c ities d uring t he V th-VIIth c enturies C .E. I t w ould r isky u rban

t o r each f irm c onclusions a bout t he c onsolidation o f s ecularl eadership, b ut i t i s d efinitely p ossible t hat t he e rection o f

G overnor's H ouse i ndicates a d evelopment

f act

i n t hat d irection.

I n o ur a nalysis o f t he p lan o f C entral C hurch, w e s tressed t hat h ere w e h ave a u nique c hurch, a n " urban" c hurch w hich,

c ontrast i tself,

t he i n

t o i ts t wo s ister c hurches i n S hivta, i s n ot c losed i n u pon s urrounded b y t ens o f m onastery r ooms, h ousehold u nits a nd

l odgings f or p ilgrims. H ere w e h ave a c ity h ouse o f p rayer, a ll, g eared t o s erve t he c ity 's p opulation i n i ts d aily l ife. t oo,

o f b e

o pen t o T his,

i s am eaningful c hange o n S hivta's u rban l andscape. W hen w as G overnor's H ouse e rected?

B ased o n c omparative-archi-

t ectural j udgement, a nd b ased u pon s tudy o f t he p lans o f t he t hree d wellings w hich m ade u p G overnor's H ouse, i t a ppears t o u s t hat t hese t hree h ouses w ere i n e xistence l ong b efore t hey w ere c onverted i nto G overnor's H ouse i n t he c ourse o f t he V Ith-VIIth c enturies C .E. C ent ral C hurch, t oo, w as e rected a pparently i n t he l atter p art o f t he s ixth c entury o r t he e arly s eventh c entury C .E. ( 45). T hus, t he e rection o f t hese t wo u nique i nstitutions: o ne h and, a nd C entral C hurch, o n t he o ther,

G overnor's H ouse, o n t he c onclude a l engthy p eriod

o f u rbanization w hich s eems t o h ave b egun i n t he l atter p art o f t he f ourth c entury C .E. a nd r eached i ts h eight i n t he p eriod c lose t o t he A rab c onquest. W hen t he S hivta r esidents d ecided t o e rect t hey d rew t heir a rchitectural

t heir " city"

c hurch,

i nspiration f rom t he c hurches w ell-known

1 66

t o

t hem i n S hivta a nd t he o ther N egev c ities;

b ut w hen t hey c ame t o

s etting u p G overnor's H ouse, t he b uilders h ad n o s ource o f i nspiration w hatsoever, n o a rchetype b y w hich t o b e g uided, s ince s tructures o f t his k ind w ere n on-existent i n t he c ities o f t he N egev ( 46). H ence, t hey h ad n o a lternative b ut t o b ase t hemselves o n w hat w as, t o s elect a c rowded, u rban c omplex i n t he c entre o f S hivta a nd a dapt i t t o i ts n ew p urpose - a nd, t hus, w ith r elatively l ittle e ffort, t hey c onverted t hree t ypical d wellings i nto t he f irst p ublic b uilding o f i ts k ind i n S hivta a nd,

p erhaps,

i n t he e ntire B yzantine N egev.

1 67

N OTES 1 .

T he

c onclusions o f o ur i nvestigations o f t he c ity p lan o f S hivta

a nd t he s tages o f

i ts d evelopment h ave b een.published i n a

g raph.

S egal,

S ee:

A .

B yzantine C ity

i n t he N egev,

s ee C h.

1 9-38.

2 , c h.

p p.

2 .

I bid.,

3 .

" Commanding-Officer's r eads:

4 .

W oolley,

W oolley,

T h. W iegand, 6 .

T hese

i t

t he t itle o n t he

T .E. o p.

( Edom),

L awrence,

s ign a t

t hat

s ign

a nd

W ien,

1 907,

8 5-88, f ig. 1 7-21. B erlin-Leipzig, 1 920, L awrence,

c it.,

f ig.

p p.

o p.

c it.,

p p.

f ig.

P EF Q St.,

3 6-44.

7 9-82,

P EF A nnual f igs.

1 7.

i n d etermining t he e xtent

r econstruction d one

d ifficult,

a t

7 5-77.

7 5.

t his t ime,

o f

t he

i n t he G overnor's H ouse a rea A uthority.

b y

B ecause

r econstructed s ections w ere n ot marked i n t he u sual i s

i ts

s ame

T he W ilderness o f Z in,

C olt E xpedition a nd t he N ational P arks

t he

( Hebrew),

o f T ih a nd t he C ountry o f M oab, 2 0, 3 3.

p hotographs a re h elpful

r epair t he

i s

1 981,

9 -18.

t he E nglish d esignation o n

P etraea

T .E.

( 3), 1 914-1915, p p. T h. W iegand, S inai, C .L.

p p.

J erusalem,

" Governor's H ouse".

M usil, A rabia

C .L.

5 .

H ouse",

b ut

E .H. P almer, T he D esert ( 1871), p p. 3 1-32, p ls. A .

" Ariel",

1 ( Research H istory),

s outh e ntrance,

m ono-

S hivta - C ity P lan a nd A rchitecture o f a

m anner,

t o d ifferentiate b etween o riginal

and r econstructed s ections. 7 .

I n a s hort r eview , p ublished a fter t he f irst t wo s easons o f e xcavation b y t he C olt E xpedition, i t w as s tated t hat, w ith t he N orth a nd S outh C hurches h aving b een c leared o ut a nd e xcavated, i t

w as

t he

E xpedition 's i ntention t o e xcavate

d uring t he n ext d id

s eason,

i .e.,

k eep t heir p romise,

t he S ummer o f

b ut a s

i s k nown,

C entral

1 936.

C hurch

T he e xcavators

t he r esults o f

t hese

e xcavations w ere n ot p ublished. C . 8 .

I n

B aly,

S 'baita,

P EF Q St.,

1 935,

t he A ntiquities A rchives o f

p p.

1 71-181.

t he R ockefeller M useum t here

a re

many p hotographs a nd a f ew p lans w hich t he C olt E xpedition p eople l eft b ehind o f 9 .

( see A .

S egal,

o p.

c it.,

p .

1 6,

n ote 8 ),

b ut n o p lans

C entral C hurch o r G overnor's H ouse.

T he C olt E xpedition e xcavators u sed t his s ystem o f c learing a t o ther c ity s ites a s w ell, e .g., S outh C hurch, P ool H ouse, a nd S table H ouse.

1 0.

O ur e xploration o f

S hivta w as c onducted u nder

A rchaeology D epartment

f unded b y t he H umphrey F und F aculty),

u nder

t he m easurements:

t he a uspices o f

o f t he B en-Gurion U niversity o f ( of

t he H umanities a nd S ocial S tudies

t he d irection o f t he a uthor. O .

B arkai,

A viman .

1 68

t he

t he N egev,

R .

E itan,

A .

P articipating O vnat,

B .

T on,

i n S .

1.

S ee n ote

1 2.

N orth C hurch w as p ublished i n t he d octoral d issertation o f M s. R . R osenthal, s ee: R . R osenthal, T he N orth C hurch a nd t he M onastery o f S obota ( Shivtah), J erusalem , 1 974 . T he

S outh C hurch p lan w as p ublished i n s mall

a bove, e ffect, 1 3.

7 .

s cale b y B aly

n ote 7 ), b ut w ith n o d escription w hatever; S outh C hurch a lso s till a waits p ublication.

W iegand n otes t hat h e

( see

s o t hat,

i n

f ound, a mong t he p iles o f r ubble a t C entral

C hurch, a n umber o f d ecorated m arble i tems, i ncluding t he p illars o f t he l attice-work s creen, s ee: T h. W iegand, o p. c it., p p. 8 08 1, f ig. 7 6. 1 4 .

I n o ur r eview o f t he h istory o f S hivta i nvestigation, w e d welt a t l ength u pon t he i mportance o f t he G erman a erial p hotographs m ade d uring W orld W ar I , i .e., b efore o n-spot e xcavations w ere b egun. S ee: A . S egal, o p. c it., p . 1 0, n . 5 .

1 5.

S ee b elow ,

t he d iscussion o f G overnor's H ouse,

1 6.

A ll t he d ecorated a rchitectural i tems w hich w e f ound a t w ill b e p ublished b y u s s hortly i n a s eparate m onograph.

1 7.

C .

1 8.

S ee n ote 1 3.

1 9.

T h.

2 0.

C .L.

2 1.

T he p lan o f t he B yzantine C hurch, i n i ts r ealization a s a b asilic an s tructure, w as b rought t o t he N egev f ully f ormed. T he s truct ural p lan a nd i ts r oofing s ystem w ere t otally f oreign t o t he

B aly, o p. c it., p .

W iegand,

o p.

W oolley,

1 62-163. S hivta

1 75.

c it.,

T .E.

p p.

f ig.

L awrence,

7 6. o p. c it., p .

8 5,

l ocal b uilding t radition a nd, a s a r esult, w as s olved i n am anner d ifferent f rom t he

p l.

X IX ( 1).

t he r oofing p roblem s olutions u sed i n

" desert" a rchitecture w hich d id n ot k now t he u se o f w ood a t S ee n .

a ll.

t he e xpanded d iscussion o f t his: A . S egal, o p. c it., P . 4 8, 1 0. F rom t his w e c an u nderstand t hat a ll o f t he b asilican

s tructures t hroughout t he c ountry w ere r oofed i n t his w ay. S ee, f or e xample, a n umber o f r econstructions: R . R osenthal, B auform u nd K ult i n d en N egevkirchen, D as H eilige L and, v ol. 8 ( 1976), p p. 2 6-30. A . M eyers, G ush H alav, Q admoniyot 4 9-50 4 5. E .

O ren,

( 1980)

A C hristian S ettlement a t O strakhina

( Hebrew),

p p.

4 3-

i n N orthern S inai,

Q admoniyot 4 2-43 ( 1978) ( Hebrew), p p. 8 1-87. Y . T zafrir, Y . H irschfeld, A C hurch o f t he B yzantine P eriod a t t he B 'rakhot R uins, Q admoniyot 4 4 ( 1977), ( Hebrew), p p. 1 20-128. I n a ll o f t he e xamples b rought a bove, t he r oofing s olutions a re v ery s imilar. T he b eams a rrangement i s s et o n t wo r ows o f c olumns o r p illars b earing a rcades o f a rchitraves ( made o f w ooden o r s tone b eams a ccording t o t he m aterial o n h and) a nd t hese s upport t he w alls o r t he s horter c olumns u pon w hich t he r oof c onstruction i tself r ests. I n m ost c ases, f or i llumination, t he s pace

b etween

t he

d ouble-sloped r oof,

1 69

w hich r ises

a bove

t he

c entral t he

h all,

N egev ,

i mport

a nd t he s ingle-sloped r oofs a bove t he a s m entioned,

w ings.

t he c hurches w ere d ependent

o f w ooden b eams w hich w ere

b rought

I n

u pon

t he

f rom t he c entre o f t he

c ountry, o bviously, w ith g reat l ogistical a nd f inancial e ffort. N o w onder, t hen, t hat t ill n ow n o s tructure o ther t han c hurches h ave b een 2 2.

A .

f ound

N egev,

S urvey,

i n t he N egev w hich u sed w ood

T he C hurches o f

R .

B .

L XXXI

t he C entral

( 1974),

I n t his e xtensive a rticle,

f or r oofing.

N egev - A n A rchaeological

p p.

4 00-422, p ls.

A .

N egev b uilt a t ypological-chrono-

X VI-XXII.

l ogical f ramework f or t en c hurches w hich w ere e xcavated i n t he N egev t ill t hen ( meanwhile, t wo a dditional c hurches h ave b een e xcavated a t I t

R ehovoth a nd H alutza).

i s b asically a t ypological

c hurch

c onstruction

s tudy b ased u pon t he d evelopment o f

f rom a o ne-apse t o a t hree-apse

E pigraphic a nd n umismatic m aterial v ated c hurches, e xample,

m ake

s tructure.

f rom t he s ystematically

e xca-

s uch a s t hose a t N itzana, M amshit a nd A vdat, i t p ossible,

a ccording t o P rof.

N egev,

t o

f or

r est h is

t ypological-chronological d etermination u pon s olid f oundations. I n a l ecture w hich P rof. N egev g ave a t t he E ighth A rchaeological C ongress a t J erusalem ( June 4 , 1 981), f urther i mportant d etails w ere a dded t o t he t ypological-chronological i ndicated h erein. D uring c hurch k ind

a s w e h ave

t he l ecture, h e o nce a gain m ade t he p oint t hat t he b asic t ype i n t he N egev i s t he s ingle-apse. C hurches o f t his w ere e rected t oward t he m iddle o f

B ased o n h is t he

f ramework,

N orth

t he f ourth

c entury

C .E.

i nvestigations a t S hivta h e h as d etermined t hat b oth a nd

s ingle-apse

S outh C hurches t here w ere

c hurches

t riple-apsed.

a nd

t heir

T herefore,

i n

b uilt

p lans w ere

S hivta,

o riginally

l ater

c hanged

o nly C entral

C hurch

a s t o w as

o riginally b uilt a s a t hree-apse s tructure. F rom t his w e c an s ee t hree s tages i n t he d evelopment N egev 's c hurches: ( a) t he e arly s tage ( 350-450 C .E.);

o f ( b)

t ransition

( 500-600

s tage

C .E.). T he r eason f or t o P rof.

( 450-500 C .E.);

( c)

t he t ransition f rom o ne t o

N egev,

i s

t o b e

p reserving t he s aints'

t he w orshippers,

s ee:

t he N egev C hurches p recis

I srael, i ts

T he

o f

A .

i n t he w orship o f

s aints a nd

t he

D epartment

( Eine

S tudie,

r eg _ ionale

N egev , ( 1981),

O vadiah,

B onn, 1 970 . W . K endall,

t he L and o f

o f A ntiquities

B auform u nd K ult 2 .

( Sept.,

a nd

M useums, o f

t he

i n d en N eeevkirchen

1 977),

B yzantins e n N egev,

i n

I srael a nd

- D ie D re 'iapsidenkirche

D as H eilige L and 1 09

N abateens e t p p.

T eil

t o

i n 1 980

C ongress

1 981, ( Hebrew), p . 4 1. a dditional a rticles p rimarily o n t he t ypology

- P alestina), 1 9

o f t he E xcavations a t H alutza

R osnthal,

t he

T he T ypology a nd C hronoloey o f

S ociety f or t he E xploration o f

R .

A .

r elics w ere b rought c loser

N egev,

i n L ight

N egev c hurches:

p p.

i n S yrien

5 -14.

L e M onde d e

l a B ible

1 0-48. C orpus

o f t he B yzantine C hurches

A rchitectural R eport,

t ions a t N essana I , T he

a ccording

t hat t ook p lace

l ectures a t t he E ighth A rchaeological

A ntiquities,

J erusalem, S ee a lso

A .

t hree a pses,

B y c onverting t he c hurch f rom o ne t o t hree a pses,

c ontainers

a

s tage

f ound i n t he d evelopment

i n t he c hurch w orship a nd e specially m artyrs.

t he l ater

t he t he

S outh C hurch,

p p.

L ondon, 4 3-45),

f rom H .

1 982; p ls.

1 70

D .

i n t he H oly L and,

C olt

( ed.),

( The N orth C hurch, L XII-LXVII.

E xcava-

p p.

3 3-34;

A lso s ee t he p reliminary r eport o n t he e xcavations o f t he N orth C hurch a t R ehovoth i n t he N egev: Y . T zafrir, R ehovoth i n t he N egev - F our S easons b rew), p p. 1 24-132 .

o f E xcavation,

S ee

g eneral

a lso a n umber o f I srael

W orship

i n t he B yzantine P eriod,

, pp. A .

3 -5. O vadiah, 6 -15. N egev,

v iew, 2 3.

A .

2 4.

T he

T he C hurches

i bid.,

S egal,

( Hebrew),

o p.

r esults

l ished.

B yzantine p eriod:

T he B yzantine

c it., o f

A .

Q admoniyot 3 3

C hurch

( 1976),

i n t he L and o f

t he

( Hebrew),

I srael,

i bid.,

1 8-37.

t he M amshit e xcavations h ave n ot y et

b een

p ub-

b elow ,

M amshit S tudies: T he C ity i n t he L ater R oman 1 972, ( Hebrew), p p. 2 24-230.

S ee

2 6.

C .L. W oolley, T .E. L awrence, o p. W iegand, o p. c it., p p. 7 9-80, f ig.

2 7.

A .

2 8.

S ee

a bove,

2 9.

A .

N egev,

S egal,

t he d iscussion a bout

o p.

c it.,

p p.

2 1-30,

M amshit S tudies:

c it., 7 5.

f ig.

8 8,

S tudies:

T he C ity

1 972,

2 24-230,

f ig.

p p.

1 4,

C hurch,

1 6-3,

1 971,

S ee a lso,

1 01 1 02

9 74.57

a rea:

- 4 .40x 3 .70 - 6 .20x10.30

p p.

M amshit d uring

2 15.12

t

;

:2 1.60

4 . 5 .

n o. n o.

1 04 - 3 .80x 4 .90 1 05 - 2 .80x 5 .00

t ,

; ;

: 1 8.62 : 1 4.00

6 .

n o.

1 06 - 4 .20x 4 .40

! I

;

: 1 8.48

7 .

n o.

1 07 - 4 .20x 5 .00

,

;

: 2 1.00

8 .

n o.

1 08 - 3 .60x 5 .20

I t

;

: 1 8.72

9 .

n o.

1 09 - 4 .80x 6 .20

I

;

:2 2.56

5 .

m etres; , ;

s quare m etres: quare m etres a rea: 1 6.28 s

1 03 - 4 .50x 4 .80

3 . 4 .

1 6-4,

s quare m etres).

n o.

a rea:

M ada

1 04.03

:6 3.86

s quare m etres:

2 01 - 5 .60x6.60 m etres; a rea: 2 02 - 4 .80x4.80 H ; t i :

3 6.96 s quare m etres 2 4.04 "

n o. n o.

2 03 - 3 .50x4.60 2 04 - 3 .50x4.80

i l t

;

" : i , :

1 6.10 1 8.13

n o.

2 05 - 2 .80x3.50

,

;

, :

9 .30

1 71

t he

1 42-154.

s quare m etres. ( The i .e., t he s um t otal

3 .

N orth H ouse - t otal

p p.

n ote 2 1.

r oom n o. t n o.

r oom n o. I t n o.

T h.

1 55-156.

1 . 2 .

1 . 2 .

1 7.

2 8.

( Hebrew),

T he t otal a rea o f G overnor's H ouse i s 6 59.47 C entral C hurch a rea i s 3 15.10 s quare m etres,

S outh H ouse - t otal

1 7,

1 65-167.

f ig.

i n t he L ater R oman P eriod,

4 -9.

o f t he a rea o f t he c omplex:

p p.

8 7-88,

T he F lowering o f

M ada

- Mamshit p p.

G overnor's H ouse,

t he d iscussion o f C entral

L ater N abatean P eriod,

( 2)

i n

C hristian

1 6-21.

2 5.

( 1)

W ilkinson,

( He-

F or a p reliminary r eview o f t he W est C hurch o n t he s ite,

s ee: A . N evev , P eriod, M ada 1 6-4,

3 0.

( 1980),

i n t he C entral N egev - a n H istorical R e-

p p.

p p.

4 8

a rticles o n C hristian w orship

L and o f p p. A .

i n t he

Q admoniyot

i t

( 3) W est H ouse 1 . r oom n o. 3 01 2 . t n o. 3 02 3 . , n o. 3 03 4 . n o. 3 04

-

t otal a rea: 3 40.32 s quare m etres: 2 .80x 5 .30 m etres; a rea: 1 4 .84 s quare m etres 6 .60x10.00 I f ; " : 5 3.50 1 .80x 4 .00 ; , • . 7 .20 4 .00x 4 .40 ; , :1 7.60

5 . 6 .

n o. n o.

3 05 - 3 .90x 4 .50 3 06 - 3 .70x 4 .40

; ;

, t ,

:1 7.55 : 1 6.28

7 . 8 .

n o. n o.

3 07 - 4 .50x 6 .30 3 08 - 3 .00x 4 .90

; ;

i , ,

:2 8.35 :1 4.70

9 . 1 0. 1 1.

n o. n o. n o.

3 09 - 4 .90x 4 .90 3 10 - 2 .40x 4 .90 3 11 - 4 .60x 5 .00

; ; ;

, , ,

:2 4.01 ' : 1 1.76 :2 3.00

1 2. 1 3.

n o. n o.

3 12 - 3 .40x 4 .50 3 13 - 5 .30x 8 .40

; ;

, ,

: 1 5.30 :3 7.80

1 4.

n o.

3 14 - 5 .30x 8 .40

;

,

:4 9.68

n o.

3 15 - 2 .50x 3 .50

;

I f

1 5.

i t

"

3 1.

S ee n ote

3 2.

A . N egev , T he S tairs T ower 1 1, ( Hebrew), p p. 1 97-207,

3 3.

A t t he P ool a rchitectural

,

,

8 .75

1 6. i n N abatean A rchitecture, f ig. 8 -9.

E retz I srael

H ouse i n t he s outh o f S hivta w e f ound a n i dentical s olution i n w hich a r oom r oofed b y t wo a rches w as

o pened d irectly i nto t he c entral c ourtyard w ith w hatever. S ee: A . S egal, S hivta, p p. 3 9-55, f ig.

n o s eparation 2 4-26.

3 4.

S ee n ote 3 3.

3 5.

S ee n ote

3 0.

3 6.

S ee n ote

1 6.

3 7.

I t i s p lausible t o a ssume t hat t hese c hanges w ere m ade a t a l ater s tage i n t he e xistence o f G overnor's H ouse, w hen t he c ourse o f t he s treets a round t he G overnor's H ouse c omplex h ad a lready b een s et a nd t here w as n o p lace t o e xpand b ut s outhward, i .e., a t t he e xpense o f G overnor's H ouse P laza.

3 8.

A .

S egal,

T he S table H ouse a t S hivta - A n A rchitectural A nalysis,

E retz I srael p p. 8 7-124 . 3 9.

A .

N egev ,

1 7,

( in p rint)

T he N ebateans

( Hebrew).

i n t he N egev,

S ee a lso,

f rom A .

b elow ,

S hmueli,

C h.

I V,

Y . G radus

( editors), E retz H aNegev, p ublished b y t he M inistry o f D efence, 1 969, ( Hebrew), p p. 2 55-260, f ig. 1 8, 2 5, 2 7, 2 9. 4 0.

A .

S egal,

3 9-41, 4 1.

S hivta,

n ote

p .

4 8,

n .

1 0.

S ee a lso, b elow,

c hapter I II,

p p.

1 0.

S ee n ote 3 8. S ee a lso: A . N egev , M amshit o f t he N egev i n t he L ater N abatean P eriod,

S tudies: T he F lowering M ada 1 6-3, 1 971, ( He-

b rew), p p. 1 44-145, f ig. 7 -8. M amshit's t wo s tables c eased t o f ulfill t heir o riginal p urpose i n t he c ourse o f t he f ourth c ent ury C .E. 4 2.

A .

S egal,

S hivta,

p p.

2 8-29.

1 72

4 3.

T he many a gricultural i nstallations s cattered i n m onastery a reas a nd i n t heir i mmediate v icinity a ttest t o t he i nvolvement o f t he c hurches i n e conomic l ife, e specially ( see S hivta, Avdat, N itzana). T he

N itzana

C hurch's

P apyri

i nvolvement

a griculture, e state

i n

p rovide

o wnership,

i mportant

i n t he e conomic

i mport

i n t he r ealm o f a griculture

a nd e xport,

e tc.

S ee:

i nformation

l ife o f

C .

i n J .

t he t ransfers K raemer,

N essana 3 (Non-Literary P apyri), P rinceton, 1 958. P h. M ayerson, T he Agricultural R egime, f rom: E xcavations a t N essana 1 L ondon, M .

E ven A n,

L .

v ival i n t he c h. 7 , p p. N egev

S hanan,

N .

1 962,

T admor,

t o B yzantine s ources,

e xtensive a rticle, P alestine a ccording 1 07

( 1963),

I t

i s

p p.

t he N egev s ettlements,

s ource a s a c ity T he

s tate

H .D.

t he

s ubject

t he e nd o f

o f

n .

E xcavations a t C olt

( ed.),

f or S ur-

A rab

C onquest,

o f P h.

M ayerson's

T he D esert P roc. A mer.

o f S outhern P hil. S oc.,

1 60-172.

s till c alled a v illage

1 67,

i n

r eal

2 11-269.

u ntil

i s t he

w as

l argest

o f

T he N egev - S truggle

s ee: P h. M ayerson, t o B yzantine S ources,

w orth n oting t hat a t

S hivta

p p.

t he

D esert, M osad B ialik, J erusalem, 1 980 ( Hebrew) ( see 9 8-103). 4 4. T he c ondition o f s ettlement i n t he

f rom t he f ourth c entury B .C.E.

a ccording

a bout

t he N egev c ities,

( Polis),

s ee

t he

f ourth

( Kome) w hereas i s

i bid.,

d esignated

c entury

C .E.

H alutza, i n

t he

t he

s ame

t he s tory o f S aint N ilus,

p .

4 3. o f

s ettlement o f

t he N egev i n

t he f irst c enturies

o f

t he C ommon E ra u ntil t he A rab C onquest i s d escribed i n a r ecent w ork b ased u pon a g eographic-ecological a pproach, w ith t he r esearcher, i n a ddition, a rchaeological i nformation, g eographic d ata, s ee: J .D.

m aking u se o f h istorical s ources a nd a s w ell a s e thnographic, e conomic a nd E lliott, T he E lusa O ikoumene - A G eo-

g raphical A nalysis o f a n A ncient a eological, ( Mgr.

E nvironmental,

t hesis),

D esert

E cosystem B ased o n

E thnographic

a nd

C obb I nstitute o f A rchaeology,

U niversity O ccasional P apers, 4 5.

S ee

4 6.

F or a n e xtensive, a rchitecture, s ee:

A rch-

H istorical

D ata,

M ississippi

S tate

1 982.

n ote 2 2.

A rchitecture, T he

L and o f

P enguin B ooks,

t he B yzantine p eriod

e xamples

s outhern

1 979.

I srael a nd S yria d o n ot a bound

b uildings o f f ew

i n-depth s ummary o f t he e ssence o f B yzantine R . K rautheimer, E arly C hristian a nd B yzantine

o f

t his

i n p alaces a nd p ublic

( IVth-VIIth c enturies C .E.).

k ind o f s tructure a re

S yria a nd T rans-Jordan

t o

b e

f ound

( from t he B yzantine p eriod

t he s tart o f t he O mmaid p eriod).

A i n

t ill

H ere a re a n umber o f e xamples:

( 1) T he " palace" a t B osra, d ated i n t he I Vth c entury C .E., s ee: H .C. B utler, P .U.A.E.S., D iv. I I, A ncient A rchitecture i n S yria, S ect.

A .,

2 95,

f ig.

( 2)

T here

P alace" ( 3)

S outhern S yria, 2 29, p ls. i s

a nother,

( ibid.,

i bid.,

I n N orth S yria,

a s b een r eviewed, B ., ( 4)

a t s ee:

p p. 2 6-45, f igs. " The G eneral's

c entury

C .E.).

f rame w e h ave s et

P art 4 ,

B osra,

L eyden,

1 914,

p p.

2 15-

X I-XII. l ater p alace a t p p.

2 86-288,

B osra

f ig.

c alled

t he K asr I bn W ardan s ite, H .C.

B utler,

2 4-37, p ls. P alace" a t

T hough t his

i s

P .U.A.E.S.,

I V-V. D ura-Europos

a nother p alace D iv.

( end o f

s omewhat e arlier t han

f or o urselves,

1 73

i t

" Episcopal

2 51-253). I I, t he

S ect. I IIrd

t he

i s w orth m entioning s ince

t ime i ts

p lan

s erved

a s

t he s ource o f

i nspiration f or p ublic

b uildings,

e specially t he p alaces t hroughout S yria, t ill t he b eginning o f t he A rab p eriod. S ee: M . R ostovtzeff, E xcavations a t D oura E uropos, P art I II - T he P alace o f t he D ux a nd t he D olicheneum, Y ale U niversity P ress, ( 5)

T he

N ew H aen,

H isham P alace a t

( VIIIth

c entury

C .E.),

s till

B yzantine a rchitecture. a n A rabian M ansion

1 952,

J ericho,

S ee:

p p.

c arries

R .W.

6 9-96,

t hough a n t he

c lear

H amilton,

i n t he J ordan V alley,

f ig.

7 .

O mmaid K hirbat

O xford,

s tructure i mprint a l

o f

M afjar -

1 959.

( 6) T he O mmaid s tructures n ear t he T emple M ount a re a lso w orthy o f m ention h ere. S ee: M . B en-Dov, T he S tructures o f t he O mmaid P eriod n ear t he T emple M ount A rchaeological I nstitute, H ebrew U niversity, J erusalem, 1 971, ( Hebrew) p p. 3 4-40, t ables 3 0-31. M . B en-Dov, T he C onstruction T echnique o f t he O mmaid P alace n ear t he T emple M ount E retz I srael 1 1, ( Hebrew), p p. 7 5-91, t ables 1 51 7 . A lso

s ee

C reswell's

e xtensive

r esearch

o n

e arly

M uslim

A rchitecture: K .A .C. C reswell, E arly M uslim A rchitecture H acker A rt B ooks, N .Y., 1 979 ( se. e d.), ( Vol. I , P art I - U mayyads 6 227 50); ( Vol. I , P art I I - A rchitectural O rigins, p p. 4 40-471). T he p alaces c ited h ere, i n s pite o f t heir b eing f rom d ifferent p eriods o ver

( the I IIrd t o t he V IIIth c enturies C .E.)

a v ast g eographical a rea,

t ures.

A ll

and

s hare a n umber o f

w ere b uilt a round a s quare o r

s cattered

i mportant f ea-

r ectangular

c entral

c ourtyard, w ith r ooms i n a ll t he f our w ings a round i t. T he w ings, f or t he m ost p art, a re t wo s toreys h igh. O ne w ing i s g enerally r eserved a s t he r eception h all ( the t hrone h all), a nd u sually h as a b asilica a nd a pse. o n

t he

T he

f acades o f t he w ings f acing

c ourtyard b ear t wo-storey a rcades.

c reated w hich a llowed e asy a ccess o f t he p alace. B etween

t hese

w hatsoever

p alaces

T hus

a nd G overnor's H ouse

i n c ommon.

p orches

t o a ll t he r ooms,

w ere

i n e very w ing

t here

i s

E ven t he N abatean s ource o f

n othing

i nspiration,

c losest i n t ime a nd g eographic d istance, i s n owhere e xpressed i n t he p lan, m ethod o f c onstruction o r d ecoration o f G overnor's H ouse. S tructure N umber I a t M anshit, d enominated b y P rof. A . N egev a s t he " palace", s eems t o u s a l ovely d welling b ut w ith n othing i n i ts

p lan,

d imensions

o r m ethod o f c onstruction t o

j ustify

t he

c ontinuity

a nd

t itle. I t

w ould

b e

d evelopment

o nly n atural f rom

u ncovered

a t M amshit,

t he h ouses

a t

t hese

S hivta.

s imply d ifficult

l ishment - a ll e nding

l ines o f

T he

t he

h ouses

e xemplified b y

f or r oofing,

t hese c ontinue, s tone,

s imilarity,

a nd i t

i s

i nfluences a nd d evelop-

s ystems o f c onstruction,

t he

e ven t he a rchitectural

b eginning i n t he N abatean

i n t he B yzantine p eriod.

N abatean d ressing o f

a s

t he B yzantine d wellings

t o p oint o ut c ontinuity,

d irections.

a rches a nd s tone b eams

b uilt

t o

s ee s uch

C lose s tudy a nd c omparison o f t he p lans o f

h ouses d o n ot r eveal m any

m ental

and

i f w e s ought t o

t he N abatean d wellings,

O n t he

o ther

t he N abatean c apital,

u se

o f

e mbelp eriod

h and,

t he

t he s taircase

a round a r ectangular p illar - t he t hings t hat a re

t ypical

i n N abatean a rchitecture - a ll t hese d isappear a nd a re n ot t o b e f ound i n B yzantine d wellings. A nd, i ndeed, G overnor's H ouse i s m ade u p o f t hree t ypical B yzantine d wellings w hich c ontain n othi ng

out

o f t he o rdinary a nd t he

t he d ozens t hroughout

l ikes

o f w hich a re

S hivta a nd t he o ther c ities o f

1 74

s cattered t he N egev.

b y

F ig.

1 .

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch, r estoration

i sometric p artial

F ig.

2 .

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch,

a erial p hoto

F ig.

4 .

G overnor's H ouse a nd C entral C hurch

( according

W oolley—Lawrence.

5

S I I IVTA F ig.

5 .

1 0

15

M

i l L 12 W G overnor's H ouse W iegand)

a nd C hurch

( according

t o

t o

._ _

1 1811 1 V T A

M et. . M I

Po w er

F ig.

F ig.

6 .

7 .

N orth C hurch a t S hivta

S outh C hurch a t S hivta .

1 81

1 82

F ig.

9 .

S hivta, W est S treet a nd t he s outhwest c orner o f t he n arthex. N ote t he b ench. P art o f t he s treet o pposite w ith s tone s labs

1 83

t he n arthex

i s p aved

l ooking s outhwest

0

1 84 t he p rayer h all

1 85 t he n arthex

1 86

t he c entral

F ig.

1 3.

S hivta,

C entral C hurch.

w all e ntrance.

C hurch's

s outh

L ooking s outh b eyond r oom

n o. 3 07 a nd t he " lateral r oom" t hreshold ( no. 3 08). N ote t he d ecorated p ilaster b ases.

1 87

0

18 8

t he

t ower

d ecoration

F ig.

1 5.

S hivta, S outh H ouse t ower. L ooking f rom .i nside t he c ourtyard t hrough t he a rched e ntrance

1 89

t he

t ower

i nto

F ig.

1 6.

S hivta, S outh H ouse a nd ' tower. L ooking s outh t o t he a rch a nd t he r oofing s labs o f

t he

s econd

s torey.

N ote

t he c onstruc—

t ion m ethod o f t he p ilasters, o f t he a rch a nd t he w alls

1 90

t he

s tones

r --

191

Q )

1 ) N 4

4 . J

▪ N .

C . )

c C S . 40

C 1 3

> C O

Q )

4 ) u ) Q )

•

L ) — 4

O

3

E ) 4 0

1 30 $ 4 4 ) C • -1 ▪ C u 4 . 1 O U 3 4 4 0 , + 4 • Q ) 0 •

z )

4.

Q . ) C I )

• E •

( r ) e r1

0

E

4 4 0 -0

$ . 4 C U

( 1 . 4

4 )

I n

4 )

1: 7 1

O

C I )

1 2

0 Z

4 -4

4 4 • ▪ O U

4 )

0

•

C I )

C u 4 J O • •

( J D

• c0 1 4

19 2

> C u 4 !

u )

L i )

I

4

4

7 ,

0

4 0

S outh H ouse

c u

C I)

4 J

O

4J

c l ) v )

0 1 4 4

0 •

e l p

( 1 )

C c l

0

e ntrance

( 1 )

V C1 ( 1 )

o f W est H ouse

•

( 3 0 • • 0

• r .4

, 7 3

4 . J : 7 , 1

4 /

• 0

0

4 _ 3 • 0 — 4 c t s0 L n › , • r I

1 93

F ig.

2 0.

S hivta,

a r oom

i n S outh H ouse. L ooking 1 03. R oofing s labs a re t he n orthern w all, e ven

n orth t o r oom n o. s till a ttached t o t hough t heir

s upporting a rch h ad c ollapsed

1 94

F ig.

2 1.

S hivta, S outh H ouse c ourtyard. L ooking s outh f rom t he t ower t o t he w est w ing r ooms

( rooms n o.

1 03—no.

1 95

1 05)

CN

1 96

F ig.

2 3.

S hivta, N orth H ouse. L ooking s outh t o t he c ourtyard. N ote t he o pening t o t he c istern a nd r oom n o.

2 05.

I n t he b ackground,

H ouse c ourtyard a nd

1 97

t he

t ower

S outh

F ig.

2 4.

S hivta,

N orth H ouse.

L ooking f rom r oom n o.

2 02 s outhward t o t he c ourtyard. I n t he b ackground, t he n orth w all o f S outh H ouse p reserved t o 7 -metre h eight

1 98

1 99 entrance

2 00 r oom n o.

3 15.

2 01 .

a nd W est

n orthwest

20 2

F ig.

2 9.

S hivta, W est H ouse. L ooking n orth, f rom t he t ower, t o r oom n o. 3 11. N ote t he w all s eparating r ooms n o. i s p ossible b ore t he

t hat

3 11

t his

a nd n o.

t roughs w hich w ere

v ault—bearing p illars.

2 03

3 12.

I t

l ow w all o riginally s eparated b y

A . A .

R eviews N egev, i n

A .

a nd G eneral

" Subeita",

" House

G olany

K edar,

S hivta

H .

D .

A .

N egev,

B . E .

C olt,

L .

T h.

R .

W iegand,

G .

M .

S inai,

p p.

G .

E .

L awrence, 7 2-91,

i n

t he N egev

1 10-114. p p.

8 4-91.

L evin-Epstein,

1 907,

p p.

T el-Aviv,

3 6-44,

" The W ilderness

f igs.

9 -22,

B er lin u nd L eipzig

p ls.

1 920,

( Excursion B iblique f igs.

1 966.

P EF Q St.

f igs.

o f Z in",

1 5-33.

P EF A nnual

X VI-XII.

p p.

6 6-83,

f igs.

5 8-

a u N egeb - S baita),

3 -6,

p l.

X IV.

( 1935),

p p.

1 71-181,

" The N abatean W are

7 9,

f rom S baita",

p ls.

R B 3 5

I -IV.

P EF Q St.

( 1936),

p p.

I -IV. - P lan a nd A rchitecture

( Hebrew),

A lt,

B eer S heva,

D ie G riechischen

C anaan,

o f a B yzantine T own

i n

t he

1 981.

A bel, E .

C .

I nschriften

B erlin u nd L eipzig,

d er

1 921,

" Byzantine C aravan R outes

i n

P alaestina T ertia W estlich p p.

4 3-44.

t he N egeb",

J POS

2

( 1922),

1 39-144 . " Note

K irk,

Y outie,

s ur

" Era

D esert", H .

p p.

E pisraphy a nd S ources

p p. M .

1 967,

t he C ountry o f M oab",

W ien,

p p.

5 83-604,

p ls.

d er A raba, T .

T ih a nd

I I(Edom),

" Chronique"

S hivta

N egev,

A .

T .

C rowfoot,

S egal,

C .

o f

" S'baita",. PEF Q St.

1 4-27, A .

G .

P ress,

S obota).

A rchaeology I ( 1948), ( Hebrew),

f rom:

V I-VII.

T onneau,

B aly,

D esert

1 914-1915,

( 1926), C .

N egev",

T he A rchitectural

A ncient A griculture

J erusalem,

E xcavations

1 116-1124.

3 1-32.

P etraea

W oolley,

p ls.

i n Z in",

i n t he D esert

p p.

A rabia

( 3)

f rom:

p p.

i n A ncient

( The T own P lan o f

( Hewbrew),

" The

( 1871),

C .

2 1-22

I V,

a nd E xcavations

P almer,

A .Musil,

v ol.

i n A rid L ands,

M ossad B ialik,

C ities

S urveys H .

p p.

" Castles

1 978,

C ity P lannings

H ousing

1 980,

M ountains,

E ncyclopedia o f A rchaeological

J erusalem,

a nd

( ed.),

l ondon, Y .

f rom:

t he H oly L and,

N egev,

D escriptions

J POS

S baita", P roblems 1 7

" Ostraca

J POS

1 5

( 1935),

i n t he G reek

( 1937),

p p.

p p.

7 -11.

I nscriptions

o f

t he

S outhern

2 09-217.

f rom S beitah",

A JA X L

2 07

( 1936),

p p.

4 52-459.

A .

N egev,

C .

J .

T he G reek

K raemer,

E xcavations

P rinceton, P h.

M eyerson,

P .

f rom

t he N egev,

a t N essana 3 ,

J erusalem,

1 981.

( Non-Literary

P apyri),

1 958.

" The

S ources",

D .

I nscriptions

D esert

P roc.

o f

S outhern P alestine a ccording

A mer P hil.

S oc.,

1 07

( 1963),

p p.

t o B yzantine

1 60L172.

C hurches A .

Mallon,

" The

B aptistere

d e

S beita",

J POS

1 0

( 1930),

p p.

2 27-229.

A .

N egev, " The C hurches o f t he C entral N egev, A n A rchaeological S urvey", R B 8 1 ( 1974), p p. 4 00-422, p ls. X VI-XXII.

R .

R osenthal,

i dem,

" Bauform

u nd

O vadiah,

p p.

p .

E .

A ncient

Y .

K edar,

1 962, Y .

K edar,

P ress, L .

S hanan,

a t

S obota

( Shivtah)

D as

H eilige

L and

t he

H oly L and,

1 08

C hurches

i n

B onn,

R egion

a t

S hivtah

i n

t he

N egev",

I EJ

7

A gricultural

E l-Anab",

B ASOR

A gricultural D .

C olt

1 53,

R emains

i n

( 1959),

p p.

R egime

( ed.),

o f

t he C entral

N essana

E xcavations

N egeb:

1 9-31. a nd

a t

t he

N essana

C entral

I ,

L ondon,

2 11-269.

L .

Agriculture

p p.

N .

9 5-119,

T admor. f rom:

i n

t he

N egev M ountains

( Hebrew),

M ossad

1 967.

S hanan,

1 971, N .

S hivta

A griculture

J erusalem,

( Hebrew),

t he

1 78-189.

f rom H .

A ncient

E venari,

B yzantine

i n

" Ancient

p p.

B ialik, M .

p p.

A ncient

N egeb",

i n d en N egevkirchen",

t he

" Ancient

T eleilat

" The

o f

Agriculture

M eyerson,

i dem,

t he M onastery

1 68.

( 1957),

T he

K ult

a nd

7 -30.

C orpus

1 970,

P h.

C hurch

( Dissertation).

( 1976), A .

T he N orth

J erusalem

A .

T admor,

A ncient S hmueli,

N egev - M an a nd D esert,

T he N egev,

H arvard U niversity

1 79-190. A griculture Y .

G radus

M inistry o f

2 08

i n

t he

( eds.),

D efence,

C entral

N egev

T he L and o f

1 979,

p p.

t he

2 70-296.