| Horvat 'Anim |
| Horvat ‘Anim |
| Conservation of the Settlement Remains |
| Duration | June 2010 |
| Implemented by: |
Eyal Kacho
Yoram Saad - Head of conservation project branch
Arch. Avi Mashiah
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Horvat ‘Anim lies within the precincts of the Jewish National Fund’s Yattir Forest, south of the city of Hebron. Its location and the finds that were discovered there have led scholars to identify it with the settlements of ‘Anim and ‘Anea, dating to the biblical and Roman-Byzantine periods respectively.
The archaeological finds at the site include an Iron Age fortress and building remains from the Roman-Byzantine period, among them: rock-hewn and built cave dwellings, agricultural installations, a cemetery and a synagogue that dates to the fourth-seventh centuries CE.
In later periods peasant farmers inhabited the confines of the ancient settlement, residing in fenced-in caves that are characteristic of the southern Hebron hill country.
In the wake of the Israeli government’s initiative to hire the unemployed in the conservation of antiquities sites around the country, the Israel Antiquities Authority Conservation Department took steps to implement conservation measures at Horbat ‘Anim and elsewhere.
The project is being carried out in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund, and it aims to preserve the exposed finds and present them to the public.
The Conservations Measures Included:
Dry Stone-Built Walls. Approximately 400 meters of dry stone-built walls were reinforced in order to draw attention to the fabric of the settlement.
The Synagogue Remains. Conservation maintenance, covering a total area of c. 650 square meters, was conducted in and around the synagogue. This included stabilizing plaster and mosaic remains, stone conservation, filling-in missing stonework, pointing up joints with mortar, sealing the tops of walls (coping), preparing a gravel surface, reinforcing foundations and arranging drainage.
The Iron Age Fortress. The conservation measures that were done in the fortress cover a total area of approximately 450 square meters and included stabilizing the structure’s foundation, completing missing stonework in the walls, sealing the tops of walls (coping) and preparing a gravel surface.
Rock-hewn Cave Dwellings. Some 200 square meters of cave complexes underwent conservation and were prepared for presentation to the public. This work included stabilizing walls, a peripheral wall, and a wall at the front of the cave, conserving the lintel in the cave entrance, arranging drainage and conducting a trial excavation at the front of the cave for the purpose of preparing the levels.
To view the figures, click on the figure caption
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