Yana Tchekhanovets
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Archaeology, Faculty Member
- Archaeology, Late Antiquity, Early Christianity, Archaeology of Caucasus, Armenian Studies, Armenians in the Holy Land, and 40 moreChurch Archaeology, Late Antique Archaeology, Urban archaeology, Roman houses, Daily Life in Ancient Times, Eastern Christianity, Saints' Cults, Monastic Archaeology, Holy Land Studies, Pilgrimage and travel to the Holy Land, British Mandate, Palestine, South Caucasus, Armenia, Georgia, Jerusalem, Holy Places, Holy Sepulchre, Inter Communal Relations, Roman Marble trade and distribution, History of Archaeology, Christian pilgrimage shrines, Pilgrimage, Spolia, Georgian Manuscripts, History of Georgia, Epigraphic Forgeries, Forgery, Fakery, Fraud, St Catherine's Monastery, Georgian Studies, Ancient Graffiti (Archaeology), Byzantine Archaeology, Jerusalem Archaeology, Monasticism, Asceticism, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Early Christian Archaeology, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Late Roman Archaeology, Archaeology of pilgrimage, and Roman Glyptics and Jewelryedit
Research Interests:
Л.А. Беляев, К.А. Вах, Я. Чехановец. Русские раскопки у Храма Воскресения в Иерусалиме: источники, дискуссии, современная интерпретация. Москва: Институт археологии РАН, Индрик. 2022.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The Caucasian Archaeology of the Holy Land investigates the complete corpus of available literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence of the Armenian, Georgian and Caucasian Albanian Christian communities’ activity in the Holy Land... more
The Caucasian Archaeology of the Holy Land investigates the complete corpus of available literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence of the Armenian, Georgian and Caucasian Albanian Christian communities’ activity in the Holy Land during the Byzantine and the Early Islamic periods. For the first time, the book presents an integrated approach to literary sources and numerous archaeological evidences, previously
unpublished or revised. The study explores the place of each of these Caucasian communities in ancient Palestine through synthesis of literary and material evidence and seeks to understand the interrelations between them and the influence they had on the national churches of the Caucasus.
unpublished or revised. The study explores the place of each of these Caucasian communities in ancient Palestine through synthesis of literary and material evidence and seeks to understand the interrelations between them and the influence they had on the national churches of the Caucasus.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This short note is dedicated to the re-discovery of a trench that was excavated in the City of David, Jerusalem, by the expedition of the Joint Project of the British School of Archaeology, directed by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1960s. The... more
This short note is dedicated to the re-discovery of a trench that was excavated in the City of David, Jerusalem, by the expedition of the Joint Project of the British School of Archaeology, directed by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1960s. The re-exposure of this excavation area c. 50 years after the completion of the archaeological work of our scientific predecessors, naturally raised questions regarding the accuracy of their archaeological and chronological conclusions, but it also offered a rare opportunity to illuminate episodes from Jerusalem's recent past.
Research Interests:
The Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem served for centuries as one of the most significant centers of Georgian religious and cultural life outside the borders of Georgia. It was established during the Byzantine period, but its... more
The Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem served for centuries as one of the most significant centers of Georgian religious and cultural life outside the borders of Georgia. It was established during the Byzantine period, but its connection with the Georgian community is well documented since the middle of the 11 th century. The monastery is still active today, as part of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Throughout its long history, the monument went through many renovations and structural changes, and was partly destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current research aims to explore one of the outstanding features of the complex: the mosaic floor of its main church, laid during the Byzantine period and still exposed, nearly a thousand years after its construction.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article discusses a new project for the archaeological study of ancient Nessana, a small settlement of the Byzantine and the Early Islamic period (5th–7th centuries CE), located in Southern Israel, in the southwestern part of the... more
The article discusses a new project for the archaeological study of ancient Nessana, a small settlement of the Byzantine and the Early Islamic period (5th–7th centuries CE), located in Southern Israel, in the southwestern
part of the Negev desert. Despite intensive work carried out in Nessana in the 20th century by two archaeological expeditions, the stratigraphy of the site and its layout are still unclear. The article presents the preliminary results of the first season of fieldwork of the new Nessana expedition, which started in 2022 by the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and considers a number of issues related to the further study of the site.
part of the Negev desert. Despite intensive work carried out in Nessana in the 20th century by two archaeological expeditions, the stratigraphy of the site and its layout are still unclear. The article presents the preliminary results of the first season of fieldwork of the new Nessana expedition, which started in 2022 by the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and considers a number of issues related to the further study of the site.
Research Interests:
This short note discusses some new archival information regarding the family of antiquities dealers of Armenian origin, father and son Nasri and Levon Ohan, who owned three shops in Jerusalem. They conducted business with archaeologists,... more
This short note discusses some new archival information regarding the family of antiquities dealers of Armenian origin, father and son Nasri and Levon Ohan, who owned three shops in Jerusalem. They conducted business with archaeologists, took a part in the Dead Sea scrolls affair, were forced to escape, and were even robbed. In this story, the dramatic events of the twentieth-century past of the Holy City are closely intertwined with the archaeological research history and the destiny of one family.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The monastic practice of Lenten retreats in the desert is attested in ancient Palestine by the early fifth century. However, within the large archaeological corpus of desert monasticism, sites that can be positively identified as Lenten... more
The monastic practice of Lenten retreats in the desert is attested in ancient Palestine by the early fifth century. However, within the large archaeological corpus of desert monasticism, sites that can be positively identified as Lenten hermitages were previously unattested. The hermitage discovered during the recent survey of the Dead Sea Escarpment is situated in a rock shelter in a narrow natural ledge, part of the high cliff towering the western shore of the Dead Sea. The harsh, arid environment and lack of perennial water sources nearby make the site a suitable abode mainly during the spring season. The walls of the shelter are covered by two layers of plaster bearing the remains of two different decorative programs, adorning the cell with red paintings and repetitive round medallions and blind arcades. Both phases of decoration exhibit initial lining, probably in preparation for relatively long texts. The sophisticated decoration of this isolated hermitage, which was not meant to impress visitors but rather to stimulate spiritual work in solitude far from the distractions of the outside world, provides an exceptional opportunity to discuss the interaction between the landscape, the image, and the written word in the ascetic practices of Palestinian monasticism.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The group of graffiti with early Christian symbols, incised on wall plaster, discovered in a sealed context of the 363 CE destruction layer of the Late Roman mansion in Jerusalem.
Research Interests:
This paper deals with two Armenian inscriptions, one a graffito written on stone and the other, an incised finger-ring, found in Nessana in the western part of central Negev desert in the South of Israel, 52 km southwest of Beersheba.... more
This paper deals with two Armenian inscriptions, one a graffito written on stone and the other, an incised finger-ring, found in Nessana in the western part of central Negev desert in the South of Israel, 52 km southwest of Beersheba. Both finds were excavated in the 1930s by an expedition led by H.D. Colt , but have remained hitherto unpublished . Their location is of high importance, indicating the presence of Armenians in the Negev, for which there is almost no other epigraphic evidence . This presence is explained as part of the Christian pilgrim traffic through the Negev towards Mount Sinai in the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods, in which the Armenians had a prominent role.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article is dedicated to the recycling of valuable materials—marble and bronze—during the Byzantine - Early Islamic period transition, as reflected in the archaeological findings discovered during the salvage excavations at the Givati... more
The article is dedicated to the recycling of valuable materials—marble and bronze—during the Byzantine - Early Islamic period transition, as reflected in the archaeological findings discovered during the salvage excavations at the Givati Parking Lot site in Jerusalem. Of special interest are the raw materials used in the industrial installations discovered during the excavations. These include precious imported marble veneers and fragments of liturgical furniture, which had been used as raw material for lime production in a large limekiln constructed on the original course of the Byzantine street; and scraps of bronze fragments of liturgical vessels, some decorated with crosses, which were discovered together with metal slags, pottery crucibles, and fragments of production waste, all testifying to the presence of a small-scale metallurgical workshop at the site.
Research Interests:
The excavations of the Roman remains in the Givati parking lot on the SE hill of ancient Jerusalem were finally completed in 2015. They showed that during that period this area was occupied by a spacious peristyle building. As the... more
The excavations of the Roman remains in the Givati parking lot on the SE hill of ancient Jerusalem were finally completed in 2015. They showed that during that period this area was occupied by a spacious peristyle building. As the perimeters of the structure happened to fall almost entirely within the Givati excavation area, its plan is known well enough. Together with related architectural remains, this structure provided a firsthand opportunity to study the cultural characteristics of settlement patterns on the hill during the late 3rd to early 4th c. The establishment of the large peristyle building in this part of the city was the outcome of the well-planned development of Aelia Capitolina southward and into available space. This paper, which deals with the archaeological evidence from a secure context over a rather large area, clearly shows that it was not until after the earthquake of AD 363 that Jerusalem transformed itself to join the Byzantine cultural and religious sphere.
Research Interests:
The Armenian Cathedral of St. James, one of the most impressive ancient ecclesiastic structures of Jerusalem, has never been properly studied archaeologically. In 1957, amateur excavations were undertaken inside the church, following its... more
The Armenian Cathedral of St. James, one of the most impressive ancient ecclesiastic structures of Jerusalem, has never been properly studied archaeologically. In 1957, amateur excavations were undertaken inside the church, following its renovation and paving works. The short report, in Armenian, illustrated by a number of photographs, was published in "Sion", the magazine of the Armenian St. James Brotherhood, by the bishop Shnorhk (Kaloustian), who was responsible for the renovations work. Due to the lack of available archaeological sources on the subject, we found appropriate to publish the relevant excerpts from the report of bishop Kaloustian in English translation, supplied with an archaeological introduction and brief resume of
the excavations’ results on the site.
the excavations’ results on the site.
Research Interests:
The 1930s excavations at the YMCA site in Jerusalem and the Byzantine 'Monastery of the Iberians' This article presents a reevaluation of the finds discovered in 1930s, during salvage excavations by John H. Iliffe on behalf of the British... more
The 1930s excavations at the YMCA site in Jerusalem and the Byzantine 'Monastery of the Iberians' This article presents a reevaluation of the finds discovered in 1930s, during salvage excavations by John H. Iliffe on behalf of the British Mandatory Department of Antiquities, conducted west of the YMCA site in Jerusalem. One of the most important discoveries made on the site was the Greek epitaph of Bishop Samuel – the first inscription found in Palestine mentioning Iberians (Geor-gians), which launched the archaeological study of the Georgian antiquities of the Holy Land. The documentation of YMCA excavations, preserved in the Mandatory Archive of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) contains the large quantity of unpublished materials, including field photos and plans, allowed for the complete layout of the large Byzantine complex to be distinguished, interpreted by its excavator as a monastery. The relationship of the YMCA site to the Georgian monastic community is discussed in connection with other evidence related to the " Monastery of the Iberians " – a monastic institution of Byzantine Jerusalem, known both from the historical sources and independent epigraphic evidence.
Research Interests:
The article is dedicated to a Byzantine-Early Islamic ring decorated with a representation of the Resurrection scene, discovered in salvage excavations in Jerusalem, at the Givati Parking Lot site. Well-dated stratified context of the... more
The article is dedicated to a Byzantine-Early Islamic ring decorated with a representation of the Resurrection scene, discovered in salvage excavations in Jerusalem, at the Givati Parking Lot site. Well-dated stratified context of the find, first of its kind discovered in archaeological excavations, enables to confirm the traditional dating of similar rings kept in the museums' collections and to discuss their possible function in early Christian pilgrimage practice.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Recent excavations in the historic centre of ancient Jerusalem have revealed evidence of an Abbasid (eighth-to tenth-century AD) marketplace. Refuse pits and cesspits have yielded an exceptionally well-preserved archaeobotanical... more
Recent excavations in the historic centre of ancient Jerusalem have revealed evidence of an Abbasid (eighth-to tenth-century AD) marketplace. Refuse pits and cesspits have yielded an exceptionally well-preserved archaeobotanical assemblage-the first to be recovered from a Levantine marketplace, and the first in the region to be almost entirely preserved by mineralisation. Among several rare species identified is the earliest discovery of aubergine in the Levant. The assemblage includes staple and luxury food plants, medicinal herbs and plants used for industrial production, illuminating patterns of consumption , production, trade and the socioeconomic structure of Abbasid Jerusalem.
Research Interests:
The brief report is dedicated to a fragmentary Armenian graffito, recently discovered in the apse of the Byzantine Southern Church of Shivta, in the Negev desert. The location of the graffito and its paleographic analysis allows to date... more
The brief report is dedicated to a fragmentary Armenian graffito, recently discovered in the apse of the Byzantine Southern Church of Shivta, in the Negev desert. The location of the graffito and its paleographic analysis allows to date it to the 9 th-11 th centuries, already after the abandonment of the site, and testifies to the continuous tradition of Christian pilgrimage, connecting Palestine with the sanctuaries of the Sinai.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Византийский временник=ΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΝΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ. Т. 101. М.: МГУ. 2017: 281-290
Research Interests:
This report is dedicated to a Greek funerary inscription of Ioanes the Armenian, dated to the Byzantine period that was discovered in Jerusalem in the last third of the 19th century and was later lost. The only documentation of the... more
This report is dedicated to a Greek funerary inscription of Ioanes the Armenian, dated to the Byzantine period that was discovered in Jerusalem in the last third of the 19th century and was later lost. The only documentation of the epitaph is a photography that survived in Russian collection and was never reproduced. The high quality of the photo allows to interpret the inscription and to determine the circumstances and place of its discovery.
Research Interests:
The article is dedicated to the analysis of the large marble assemblage discovered during the salvage archaeological excavations of Givati site in Jerusalem. Over 2400 marble worked and polished items, mostly slabs and veneers were... more
The article is dedicated to the analysis of the large marble assemblage discovered during the salvage archaeological excavations of Givati site in Jerusalem. Over 2400 marble worked and polished items, mostly slabs and veneers were discovered in secondary deposition in the later occupational layers of the site, dated from Byzantine to Abbasid periods, and in the primary fills near the modern surface. It seems that the analysis of this large assemblage may serve as a case study for the understanding of the “marble circulation” process in Late Antiquity: stones export, local finishing and placement, as well as the processes of its final deposition, spolia and different forms of reuse and conversion.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT: This article proposes and tests a novel interdisciplinary method for reconstructing the ancient humans’ environment by using plant imprints on pottery. Sherds with plant imprints may provide a valuable source for reconstructing... more
ABSTRACT: This article proposes and tests a novel interdisciplinary method for
reconstructing the ancient humans’ environment by using plant imprints on pottery.
Sherds with plant imprints may provide a valuable source for reconstructing
certain components of the ancient vegetation, and the imprints may represent a link
to the potter’s immediate environment, pottery production methods, and the local
cultural relationships with plants. We examined 15 sherds with plant imprints
retrieved from Hellenistic strata from the Givªati Parking Lot, Jerusalem. Plant
imprints were analysed for their position on the vessel and to determine which
plant organ was presented; the imprints were then scanned and measured to determine
the plant species. Results show clear evidence for the intentional use of green
leaves for vessel rim repair. Archaeobotanical analysis of these sherds has also
revealed the earliest evidence for the presence of fig tree, Ficus carica, in Jerusalem
and the surrounding region. These results show that analysis of plant leaf
imprints on pottery can further improve the reconstruction of ancient settlement
life and its environmental conditions.
reconstructing the ancient humans’ environment by using plant imprints on pottery.
Sherds with plant imprints may provide a valuable source for reconstructing
certain components of the ancient vegetation, and the imprints may represent a link
to the potter’s immediate environment, pottery production methods, and the local
cultural relationships with plants. We examined 15 sherds with plant imprints
retrieved from Hellenistic strata from the Givªati Parking Lot, Jerusalem. Plant
imprints were analysed for their position on the vessel and to determine which
plant organ was presented; the imprints were then scanned and measured to determine
the plant species. Results show clear evidence for the intentional use of green
leaves for vessel rim repair. Archaeobotanical analysis of these sherds has also
revealed the earliest evidence for the presence of fig tree, Ficus carica, in Jerusalem
and the surrounding region. These results show that analysis of plant leaf
imprints on pottery can further improve the reconstruction of ancient settlement
life and its environmental conditions.
Research Interests:
This paper presents and discusses the results of residue analysis conducted on 78 ceramic lamps found in archaeological excavations in ancient Jerusalem, in an attempt to identify the types of oils used and the reasons for their... more
This paper presents and discusses the results of residue analysis conducted on 78 ceramic lamps found in archaeological excavations in ancient Jerusalem, in an attempt to identify the types of oils used and the reasons for their preferential choice. The oil lamps chosen for the study were taken from a variety of contexts, which represent the different periods during which Jerusalem was settled and the different sectors of the city. The results of the study show that even the most mundane activity of lighting using oil held within it social and economic choices, as mirrored in the different excavation areas.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article is aiming to clarify the circumstances and chronology of the gradual loss of the Georgian Orthodox community possessions in the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem. The study relies on data obtained from the inscribed stone... more
The article is aiming to clarify the circumstances and chronology of the gradual loss of the Georgian Orthodox community possessions in the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem. The study relies on data obtained from the inscribed stone slabs, installed inside the Resurrection Cathedral of Novy Ierusalim monastery on river Istra, west of Moscow. Assembled together, the inscribed slabs, dated to 1680-s, are forming a unique “guide book” for Holy Sepulchre Church, precisely copied in the Moscovite structure of Novy Ierusalim. The text of the inscriptions, is based on the famous “Itinerary” written by Russian traveler Arseny Sukhanov. In the lapidary texts, special attention is given to the confessional ownership of various chapels of the original church, alongside with a precise information regarding the changes made in Moscovite copy of the church.
Epigraphic material from Novy Ierusalim, confronted with scattered literary evidence regarding the possessions upon various parts of the Holy Sepulchre, brings strong evidence for Georgian ownership on the northern chapel of the church, known as “Prison of Christ”, and helps to establish a precise chronology of this ownership.
Epigraphic material from Novy Ierusalim, confronted with scattered literary evidence regarding the possessions upon various parts of the Holy Sepulchre, brings strong evidence for Georgian ownership on the northern chapel of the church, known as “Prison of Christ”, and helps to establish a precise chronology of this ownership.
Research Interests:
The subject of this essay is a unique stone bowl found in the collection of the Museum of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, and reported (orally) to have been discovered in the Byzantine chapel decorated with an Armenian “Bird... more
The subject of this essay is a unique stone bowl found in the collection of the Museum of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, and reported (orally) to have been discovered in the Byzantine chapel decorated with an Armenian “Bird Mosaic” in Musrara neighbourhood. The bowl is engraved with Greek
and Armenian inscriptions: the first indecipherable, and the second incomprehensible (CIIP I/2 1083). Reexamination of the find itself and of the records relating to it raises serious doubts regarding the vessel’s provenance and authenticity.
and Armenian inscriptions: the first indecipherable, and the second incomprehensible (CIIP I/2 1083). Reexamination of the find itself and of the records relating to it raises serious doubts regarding the vessel’s provenance and authenticity.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Article presents a miniature Byzantine diptych icon incorporated in a bone box, recently discovered in archaeological excavations in Jerusalem. The find was unearthed on the pedestrian sidewalk of the Byzantine street, in a sealed and... more
Article presents a miniature Byzantine diptych icon incorporated in a bone box, recently discovered in archaeological excavations in Jerusalem. The find was unearthed on the pedestrian sidewalk of the Byzantine street, in a sealed and well stratified context dated to the beginning of the 7th century. The miniature diptych may be regarded as one of the early examples of Christian art of the pre-iconoclastic period.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article is dedicated to the primary results of salvage excavations, performed by the authors during the last eight years on Givati plot, in the close proximity to the historical nucleus of ancient Jerusalem, known as the “City of... more
The article is dedicated to the primary results of salvage excavations, performed by the authors during the last
eight years on Givati plot, in the close proximity to the historical nucleus of ancient Jerusalem, known as the “City of David”. The large area occupied by Givati excavations, its massive cultural layer, the well-stratified monumental architectural complexes revealed, dated to the wide chronological range, from the Early Islamic (8th−9th centuries AD) to the Iron Age II (9th century BC) and their good preservation state are unique for salvage archaeological practice in Israel.
eight years on Givati plot, in the close proximity to the historical nucleus of ancient Jerusalem, known as the “City of David”. The large area occupied by Givati excavations, its massive cultural layer, the well-stratified monumental architectural complexes revealed, dated to the wide chronological range, from the Early Islamic (8th−9th centuries AD) to the Iron Age II (9th century BC) and their good preservation state are unique for salvage archaeological practice in Israel.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
"Albania, the “forgotten Christian kingdom” next to Armenia and Georgia, is the terra incognita of the Caucasus. Even the borders of the ancient country cannot be drawn clearly, and questions of ethnic identity of the ancient Albanians,... more
"Albania, the “forgotten Christian kingdom” next to Armenia and Georgia, is the terra incognita of the Caucasus. Even the borders of the ancient country cannot be drawn clearly, and questions of ethnic identity of the ancient Albanians, their language, script and material culture are particularly sensitive. Since the conversion to Christianity in the 4th century, the three churches of the neighboring Armenia, Georgia and Albania were closely associated. The same preachers and church hierarchs were
often active in these countries. Surprisingly, some evidence from the Holy Land may shed new light on this obscure period in Caucasian history, and testify to the relations between the churches of the three Caucasian states."
often active in these countries. Surprisingly, some evidence from the Holy Land may shed new light on this obscure period in Caucasian history, and testify to the relations between the churches of the three Caucasian states."
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Politics have long been the context for scholarly activity and Russia’s are no exception. The past 150 years of Russian research into Holy Land antiquities were a by-product of Russia’s Eastern policy from the second half of the 19th... more
Politics have long been the context for scholarly activity and Russia’s are no exception. The past 150 years of Russian research into Holy Land antiquities were a by-product of Russia’s Eastern policy from the second half of the 19th century onward.
Various Russian organizations and individuals were active in Ottoman Palestine, but most prominent were the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Ecclesiastic Mission, and the Imperial Palestinian Orthodox Society—a benevolent organization under the patronage of the Royal Russian family. All were united in a common effort to reinforce the positions of the Russian Empire and the Russian Church in the Orient and to facilitate the pilgrimage of thousands of Russians willing to visit the holy sites of Palestine.
Various Russian organizations and individuals were active in Ottoman Palestine, but most prominent were the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Ecclesiastic Mission, and the Imperial Palestinian Orthodox Society—a benevolent organization under the patronage of the Royal Russian family. All were united in a common effort to reinforce the positions of the Russian Empire and the Russian Church in the Orient and to facilitate the pilgrimage of thousands of Russians willing to visit the holy sites of Palestine.
Research Interests:
The article presents the current understanding of the antiquities collections assembled by archimandrite Antonin Kapustin during his years as a head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, in the decades 70–80-s of the 19th... more
The article presents the current understanding of the antiquities collections assembled by archimandrite Antonin Kapustin during his years as a head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, in the decades 70–80-s of the 19th century. The collection, typical for the 19th century Holy Land assemblages, contained numerous epigraphic and numismatic finds and various archaeological objects, mainly dated to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Certain parts of the collection are exhibited today in Russian and Israel state museums. The pearls of the Russian collection were long ago identified and published; other disappeared or remain unavailable for contemporary research. However, photos and archival documentation of the finds may help to reconstruct the outline of the collection and to create a sort of its “virtual catalog”. Centenarian enhancement of archaeological research of the Holy Land facilitates the contemporary attribution of the finds, their merging into historical and cultural context, and discerning the forgeries. It seems that in its contemporary state of preservation, the collection does not represent considerable scientific value. Nevertheless, its finds may serve future exhibitions, and the future study of the collection could be used as an educational basis for a new generation of Russian scholars, willing to take a part in its research.
Research Interests:
This study belongs to a new archaeological subdiscipline — the archaeology of Russian presence, addressing cultural, ethnic, and geopolitical contacts between the Russian Empire and the Near Eastern, specifically Syro-Palestinian,... more
This study belongs to a new archaeological subdiscipline — the archaeology of Russian presence, addressing cultural, ethnic, and geopolitical contacts between the Russian Empire and the Near
Eastern, specifically Syro-Palestinian, population in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. This was the time when a new sociocultural entity emerged, known as Russian Palestine. Many thousands of Orthodox Christians from Russia traveled to the Holy Land each year. Important evidence thereof are archaeological sites relating to Russian estates and pilgrimage centers. This article provides information on newly discovered Russian estates in 19th century Jerusalem, remains of buildings with their infrastructure, numerous 18th–19th century lapidary inscriptions, utensils left by the first Russian missionaries, small cemeteries, and separate burials. One find is unusual: a family synodikon from Aceldama, printed in Moscow. Among the inscriptions are professional ones, made in the monumental style, and usual prayer graffiti. One inscription has allowed us to determine the date of the pilgrimage to Constantinople and Palestine by the Chernigov monks, described by Sylvester (Dikansky).
Eastern, specifically Syro-Palestinian, population in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. This was the time when a new sociocultural entity emerged, known as Russian Palestine. Many thousands of Orthodox Christians from Russia traveled to the Holy Land each year. Important evidence thereof are archaeological sites relating to Russian estates and pilgrimage centers. This article provides information on newly discovered Russian estates in 19th century Jerusalem, remains of buildings with their infrastructure, numerous 18th–19th century lapidary inscriptions, utensils left by the first Russian missionaries, small cemeteries, and separate burials. One find is unusual: a family synodikon from Aceldama, printed in Moscow. Among the inscriptions are professional ones, made in the monumental style, and usual prayer graffiti. One inscription has allowed us to determine the date of the pilgrimage to Constantinople and Palestine by the Chernigov monks, described by Sylvester (Dikansky).
Research Interests:
The article describes the results of salvage excavations in Musrara, an historical district of Jerusalem located in the immediate proximity of the Old City walls. The excavations revealed the remains of Byzantine monastic complex dated to... more
The article describes the results of salvage excavations in Musrara, an historical district of Jerusalem located in the immediate proximity of the Old City walls. The excavations revealed the remains of Byzantine monastic complex dated to the 6th–7th cc. CE, and the foundations of a large structure of the late 19th c., built by initiative of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for employees of the Russian Consulate in Jerusalem.
Research Interests:
Archival research on recently discovered structure, built in late 19th century Jerusalem by initiative of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for employees of the Russian Consulate.
Research Interests:
Russian commemoration book (pomyannik), dated to the early 20th c. discovered in Aceldama, Jerusalem, during the excavations of disturbed burials near the Greek Monastery of St. Onuphrius the Great. The original archaeological context of... more
Russian commemoration book (pomyannik), dated to the early 20th c. discovered in Aceldama, Jerusalem, during the excavations of disturbed burials near the Greek Monastery of St. Onuphrius the Great. The original archaeological context of the find, a Medieval charnel-house, is discussed, together with possible identification of the book owner, a woman pilgrim from Russia.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The first century inscription on relocation of the bones of the Judean King Uzziah was found by E.L. Sukenik in the Russian collection of antiquities in Jerusalem, in 1931. Recent archival finds help to establish the provenance of the... more
The first century inscription on relocation of the bones of the Judean King Uzziah was found by E.L. Sukenik in the Russian collection of antiquities in Jerusalem, in 1931. Recent archival finds help to establish the provenance of the tablet and to shed light on the circumstances of its discovery in 1887.
Research Interests:
Hirbet es-Sebta, mainly known as "Moskobiya", a propriety in the possession of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, is located in the north-western outskirts of the modern town of Hebron. Purchased by archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin) in... more
Hirbet es-Sebta, mainly known as "Moskobiya", a propriety in the possession of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, is located in the north-western outskirts of the modern town of Hebron. Purchased by archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin) in 1868, today the plot includes an old venerated oak tree, known as ‘Oak of Abraham’, water spring, small Monastery of the Holy Trinity with a church and guest house. The article presents the results of archaeological survey, performed at the site in 2006, prior to the extensive development of the territory.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Hadashot Arkheologiyot 132, 2020