Khirbet Kelafa

Khirbet Kelefa is an archeological site of a Jewish settlement from the Second Temple period tio the end of the Bar Kokhba revolt. The site is located about 2 km southeast to the village of Surif.[1]

Archeological analysis

This archeological site was never surveyed before and following a visit to the site which led to the discovery of a mikveh and a Bar Kokhba hiding complex, in 2013 archeologist Dvir Raviv surveyed the site for the first time.[1]

Archeological findings

The archeological findings at Khirbet Kelefa include building remains, cistern, caves, a large and smaller Mikveh, hiding complex and agricultural facilities.[1] Many ceramics remains were found, dating to the Second Temple period and the Bar Kokhba revolt.[1][2] Another finding typical to Jewish settlements of that period, were the remains of a soft curved chalk bowl.[1] These findings are match findings in similar Jewish settlements in the northern Hebron hills, mentioned in historical sources.

The Mikveh

At Khirbet Kelefa two Mikveh were discovered. A large one and a smaller one in the residential area. The Mikveh included seven steps leading down to the bathing area, the walls were covered with grey plaster typical to the earluy Roman period.[1][3]

The hiding complex

The large hiding complex of Khirbet Kelefa is located about 50 meters southeast from the Mikveh, has four entrances and a total and a total tunnel length of 70m.[1]

Site history

The archeological findings at the site are evidence to a substantial Jewish settlement existing between the Second Temple period and the Bar Kokhba revolt. It was part of the Herodium province of the northern Hebron hills.[1] The province included settlements like: Betar, Herodium, Tekoa, Cusiba, Eir Nahash, Kiryat Arbaya and Bethel. At 135 CE the Roman Empire suppressed the Bar Kokhba revolt leading to the destruction of Jewish presence in that area until modern times.[1]

References
  1. Raviv, Dvir. "Raviv D., 2016, "Khirbet Kelafa – A Jewish settlement from the Second Temple period and the Bar-Kokhba Revolt in the Northern Hebron Mountains", In the Highland's Depth - Ephraim Range and Binyamin Research Studies, Vol. 6, Ariel-Talmon, pp. 51*-66*". Academia.
  2. רביב, דביר; הר-אבן, בנימין; טבגר, אהרן (2016). "חורבת אל-קט – כפר יהודי מבוצר משלהי ימי הבית השני ועד מרד בר-כוכבא בדרום השומרון". במעבה ההר. 6: 107–128. ISSN 2521-9456.
  3. "Volume 122 Year 2010 Umm el-'Amad (West)". www.hadashot-esi.org.il. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.