User:Bolter21/Zakariya

=Horbat Zekhariya= Horbat Zekhariya (חורבת זכריה), or Khirbat Zakariya (خربة زكريا) is part of a complex of archaeological sites consisting of Horbat Kelah and El-Habs, located in the hills of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, in the territory of Ben Shemen Forest.

Early Islamic, Crusader and Mamluk periods
The salvage excavation conducted by the IAA in 2017–2018 exposed a previously unknown Islamic-period settlement. 3.5 dunams of this settlement were excavated southwest of the main site, at the top of the hill. The well-planned and constructed settlement was established in the 9th century CE, during the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate. The buildings were built directly on the bedrock. They were attached to each other, sharing walls the excavators identified 63 units. The settlement contained storerooms, at least three olive presses, a kiln, cisterns, and plenty of small finds. Several spaces were paved with mosaic floors. Several structures, which were destroyed and rebuilt were dated to the 11th century and the rule of the Fatimid Caliphate. The cause of the destruction is likely either of the 1033 and 1068 earthquakes in the region. The settlement never fully recovered and the population density reduced. Archaeological materials in some of the buildings attest to continued activity during the 12h century CE (Crusader period). Several structures were built during the 13th or 14 centuries CE, during the rule of the Mamluk Sultanate, including one building with a courtyard. In the late 15th century, the site became a cemetery. 64 cist tombs that were dug inside previous constructions. The archaeological remains do not provide evidence of the religious affiliation of the inhabitants. The excavators concluded that like its previous phase, the prosperous settlement of the Early Islamic period may have had a Christian, Muslim or mixed population.

Ottoman and British periods
The Maqam (shrine) is associated with Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist

Name
The name of the site has appeared in various forms throughout history including Khǔrbet Zakariyeh, Kharbet Zakarieh

Discovery
In 1870 the French explorer Victor Guérin visited the site during a tour from Saffa to Bayt Nabala (Nevallat), in the area and environs of the modern cities of Modi'in, Shoham and Ben Shemen Forest. The site was covered with "magnificent harvests" and Guérin spotted numerous ancient potsherds and tesserae scattered on the ground. He reported finding some ancient cisterns and tombs. "The most considerable ruins are those on a mound, where the remains of a rather powerful construction are seen in large blocks, of which only a few arches remain." In 1944 the British Department of Antiquities conducted an excavation near the Maqam of Nabi Zakariya, but the report was absent from the archives and its file only contains several photographs of a partially excavated remains of an ashlar-built structure, which survived only to foundations level. The structure featured a drainage system and hall paved with a mosaic floor. Fragments of architectural features such as cornice were also unearthed.

The main site at Horbat Zakariya (Site 235) is a major early-Christian settlement dated mostly to the Byzantine period, spread over 25 dunams. The potsherds found on the ground belonged to vessels dated also to the Early Islamic, Middle Ages and Ottoman periods. In the middle of the site are the remains of a large public structure built of ashlar stones, measuring 6.2 x 11.3 meters. The building featured bases for columns and at one engaged column was observed. The walls of another structure were found on a terrace. Cisterns, capstones and natural caves are scattered around the site.

=Horbat Kelah= Horbat Kelah (חורבת כלח), or Khirbet

Names
The name of the site has appeared in various forms throughout history including Khǔrbet el Kelkh

Archaeology
At Horbat el Kelah (Site 168) architectural features were reported at 40 dunams. These included structures built of ashlar stones, rock-cut caves, one featuring a staircase, installations, and a concentration of cist tombs. An arcosolium tomb which served as a cistern in secondary use was observed. Several winepresses were surveyed. The finds included pottery, marble vessels, roof tiles, tessera and non-diagnostic flint tools. The indicative finds were dated to the Iron Age II, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Early Islamic periods.