Khirbat al-Tannur خربة التنور | |
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| Etymology: "The lower Allar"[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 al-Tannur (click the buttons) | |
  Khirbat al-Tannur Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°42′54″N35°02′55″E / 31.71500°N 35.04861°E /31.71500; 35.04861 | |
| Palestine grid | 154/124 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Jerusalem |
| Date of depopulation | October 21, 1948 |
| Population (19th century) | |
• Total | 400 |
| Current Localities | Mata[2] |
Khirbat al-Tannur (Arabic:خربة التنور), also known asAllar al-Sifla ("Lower Allar"),[3] was aPalestinian Arab hamlet in theJerusalem Subdistrict, nearAllar. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab–Israeli War on October 21, 1948, underOperation Ha-Har. It was located 18.5 km west ofJerusalem.
Ein Tanur ("Oven Spring") is a spring north east of the village site, enhanced by an ancient tunnel dug deeply to catch the water at the source and increase its flow.[4] The name was in the 19th centuryAin Bint Nûh, or the spring ofNoah’s daughter.[5][6]
In the 12th century, during theCrusader era, a rural monastery was established consisting of several barrel-vaulted buildings, an enclosure wall and a chapel.[7] British archaeologistDenys Pringle proposed that the complex was a knownCistercian house called "Saluatio" established in 1169.[8]
In the 13th century it was recorded in two documents that income from the village supported the school al-Mu'azzamiyya (com.) ("مدارس"), north of theHaram Ash-Sharif inJerusalem.[9]
Khirbat al-Tannur was incorporated into theOttoman Empire in 1517 with all ofPalestine, and in 1596 it appeared in thetax registers under the name of 'Allar as-Sufla in theNahiya ofQuds in theLiwa ofQuds ("القدس"), with a population of 7Muslim households. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 33,3 % on wheat, barley, summer crops and olives, a total of 3,150Akçe. All of the revenue went to aWaqf.[10]
In 1838,Edward Robinson noted that: "we came to a village calledAllar es-Sifla (the lower), to distinguish it from a village calledAllar el-Foka (the upper), on a higher ground a little further to the left. Here was a ruined church, large and solidly built, and apparently very ancient. A few rods on the left, higher up the valley, is a fine fountain, which waters a tract of gardens and fruit trees along the bottom. Here are also many olive trees; which indeed are very abundant throughout all this region. "[11]
Victor Guérin, who visited in 1863, noted the presence of a large, ancient, ruined church.[12]
In 1873, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine visited and described the ruins at 'Allar es Sifleh: "Apparently an ancient site with rock- cut tombs.Khurbet Nuh forms part of the site with its two springs and gardens of orange trees. There is a ruined building here, which appears to have been an ancient church. The building has a bearing 107° east along its length, with a window to the east and two to the north. On the south was the door. The measurements outside were 88 feet east and west by 46 feet north and south. The walls are 10 feet thick, and standing in parts 20 feet high. Acornice runs round the interior two brackets remain on the north wall between the windows, which probably once supported thearches of the roof. The windows are very narrow, with round arches above. The masonry is of small stones, rudely squared, but the faces not dressed smooth. The mortar is hard and mixed with charcoal. The core of the walls is of rubble. The interior of the church is cemented. All these details point to the building being of 12th century date.
Among the ruins arevaults cemented inside, with small masonry and pointed arches. One corner of a building had drafted stones, the face rustic, and projecting 2 1/2 inches, the draft 4 inches wide. Near this is an old ruined tank. The ruins are probably to be attributed toCrusading times."[13]
Frenchorientalist and archaeologist,Charles Clermont-Ganneau, who visited the site in 1874 described in great detail the ancient church (El K'nîseh) which he saw in Allar al-Sifla, and which partially stands to this very day.[14]
A visitor in 1875 wrote that it had a population of 400, but soon afterwards it was apparently abandoned until the 20th century.[2]
In the lateMandate period it was classified as ahamlet.[2]
Six Arab families fromBayt 'Itab who settled amid the Crusader ruins were involved in a long-standing feud with Allar villagers over water use, land ownership and grazing routes, which only ended in 1948 when both places were depopulated.[6]
When the site was inspected in 1992, there were ten houses of which six had been destroyed.[2] The village land was amalgamated with that ofAllar, and the settlement closest to Khirbat al-Tannur wasMata[2]According to the legend as recounted by the mukhtar of Alar, Noah’s oven stood here before the flood: "When God despaired of His creations and destroyed the world, the righteous Noah’s oven began spouting water, thus proving Noah’s great commitment to God. By the time the deluge was over...the oven had forgotten its original purpose. Thus, today, water continues to flow at this site, as if the flood had never ended." The mukhtar explained that Noah passed by this spot in his ark but saw only a spring rather than his oven, which is why he chose to continue his journey and land on Mount Ararat.[15]
