Khirbat Zakariyya خربة زكريا | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Remains of Khirbat Zakariyya, 2016 | |
| Etymology: Neby Zakarîya, the prophetZechariah[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Khirbat Zakariyya (click the buttons) | |
  Khirbat Zakariyya Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°55′28″N34°58′23″E / 31.92444°N 34.97306°E /31.92444; 34.97306 | |
| Palestine grid | 147/148 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Ramle |
| Date of depopulation | July 12–13, 1948[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,538dunams (4.538 km2; 1.752 sq mi) |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Secondary cause | Influence of nearby town's fall |
Khirbat Zakariyya (Arabic:خربة زكريا) was aPalestinian village in theRamle Subdistrict ofMandatory Palestine. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab–Israeli War on July 12, 1948, under the second stage ofOperation Dani. It was located 9 km (5.6 mi) east ofRamla.
The archaeological site, also knownHorbat Zekharya (Hebrew:חורבת זכריה) is today located next to theTechnological Park ofModi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut,Israel. It forms part of a cluster of sites located in the Modi'in hills next to ancient roads linkingJerusalem and thecoastal plain. This cluster include the site ofKhirbat el-Kelkh /Horvat Kelah, and the caves atel-Habs.[5]
In the 19th century it gave the name for an agricultural estate, which formed part of the territory controlled by thePalestinian-Arab Khawaja family of theYaman tribal group, based in the village ofNi'lin to the east.[6] Kh. Zakariyya was listed in theVillage Statistics (1945), prepared byMandatory Palestine with an of 4,538 dunams,[4] of which about half are used for growing cereals. In July 1948, DuringOperation Danny, Kh. Zakariyya and other Palestinian-Arab localities in the region were captured and depopulated.
The site was surveyed by European explorers during the late 19th century. In 1870 the French explorerVictor Guérin described Kh. Zakariyya: "at this moment they are covered with magnificent harvests, in the midst of which I observe manysherds of antique pottery and a considerable number of cubes of mosaic scattered on the ground. Several tombs and some ancientcisterns attract my attention. 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 fewarches remain."[7]
In 1871–74Charles Simon Clermont-Ganneau visitedKhar'bet Zakarieh/Khurbet el Kelkh, and "found there a beautifulbaptistery with a Greek inscription bearing the name of the donorSophronia, and in a sepulchral cave in the same place another Greek inscription of The Christian era."[7][9]
In 1882, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine also noted thefont atKhurbet el Kelkh, and compared it with the one found atTuqu'.[10] They further noted: "Foundations of large rough stones surround the littlekubbeh of Neby Zakariya, and appear ancient."[11] At nearbyel Habs they found what would "appear to have been a hermit's cell, consisting of a long excavated chamber, with windows opening north-wards, cut high up in a scarp of rock facing north."[12]
In 1891, Paul M. Séjourné visited the site during a tour in the region and found the baptistery dedicated toSophronia on top of a mound. He noted that the other inscription has since been destroyed. He visited the monastic caves ofel Habs and reported several tombs, including a "remakable" sculpted burial cave. He concluded with hopes of future research at the site.[13]
In 1944 the BritishDepartment of Antiquities conducted an excavation near theMaqam of Nabi Zakariya, but the report was absent from the archives and its file only contains several photographs of a partially excavated remains of anashlar-built structure, which survived only to foundations level. The structure featured a drainage system and hall paved with amosaic floor. Fragments of architectural features such ascornice were also unearthed.[5]
During the 90s theIsrael Antiquities Authority (IAA) conducted a survey in the region headed by Alon Shavit and the three sites were visited.[14] In 1998 the IAA surveyed an area allocated for the construction of the Modi'in Techonological Park, including H. Kelah, H. Zakariya and their agricultural hinterlands on the hills to the south and east.[15] In 2017–2018, an extensive excavation conducted by Avraham S. Tendler of the IAA revealed a large previously unknown Islamic-period settlement south of the known antiquities at Kh. Zakariya.[16]
The main site at Horbat Zakariya (Site 235) is a major early-Christian settlement dated mostly to theByzantine 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 oneengaged column was observed. The walls of another structure were found on a terrace. Cisterns, capstones and natural caves are scattered around the site.[17]
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 theAbbasid Caliphate. The buildings were built directly on thebedrock. They were attached to each other, sharing walls the excavators identified 63 units. The settlement contained storerooms, at least threeolive presses, akiln, 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 theFatimid Caliphate. The cause of the destruction is likely either of the1033 and1068 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 theMamluk 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.[16]
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. Anarcosolium 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 theIron Age II,Persian,Hellenistic,Roman,Byzantine, and Early Islamic periods.[18]
In the1945 statistics Kh. Zakariyya had 4,538 dunams of land.[3][4] Of this, a total of 2,161 dunams were used forcereals,[19] while 2,377 dunams were classified as non-cultivable areas.[20]
Khirbat Zakariyya became depopulated on July 12–13, 1948, after a military assault by Israeli forces.[2]
Note 12: במאה ה-19 ,נחשבה משפחת אל-ח'ואג'ה למנהיגת מחנה הימן בכפרי בני חמאר, ושלטונה התפרס על הכפרים נעלין, אל-מִדְיָא ועל האחוזות זכריא, דיר אבו סלאמה וח'רבת אל-ט'היריה (כיום בתחומי יער בן שמן). [In the 19th century, the al-Khawaja was considered the leading family of the Yaman camp in the Bani Khamar villages, and its rule spread over the villages of Ni'lin, el-Midiya and the estates of Zakariyya, Dayr Abu Salama and Khirbat el-Duheryriya (Today in the bounds of the Ben Shemen Forest).]
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