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monastery
church and chapel looking east toward the Khabur River. The
semi-circular apse belonging the haikal (Syriac, temple room) is
visible in the foreground. Fiver superimposed floor surfaces
were detected inside the monastery church. The original floor
surface (shown in this image) was composed of a thick plaster
layer poured with great care. Coins associated the first phase
of the monastery church correlates its construction with the
prosperity and security during the reign of Harun al-Rashid (AH
170-193/786-809). The second phase floor was inferior in
construction and dates from the end of the Abbasid Caliphate or
beginning of the Seljuq Period. The third phase floor dates from
the late 11th century. The fourth phase floor in the monastery
church can be dated by an Ayyubid coin of al Adil (minted in al-Ruha
in the year AH 604/AD 1207. The fifth and final phase, when the
monastery was in decline, dates to the period of the Mongol
invasions (14th and early 15th century).
An
Abbasid Lamp
Copper
fals minted during the Umayyad Period and belonging to the
"reformed" style that dates from AH 79-132/AD 689-750.
The coin measures 20.0 mm. in diameter, 1.5 mm. in thickness,
and weighs 3.01 grams. It was discovered by Chad Roberts and was
embedded in the plaster steps leading from the sanctuary into
the haikal. This specimen compares favorably with numerous
copper specimens from Tuneinir and with examples such as
Mitchiner (coin 65).
Copper
fals of King Al Adil minted in the city of al-Ruha (Edessa in
modern Turkey) during the year AH [604]/AD [1207]. The coin is
slightly irregular and measures 21 x 19.3 mm. and weighs 2.93
grams. It was discovered by Chad Roberts cemented into the
plaster steps (between the haikal and sanctuary) of the first
phase of the monastery church. This specimen compares favorably
with dozens of specimens from other portions of Tuneinir and
with specimens in various collections (see Balog 351w). The
central legend is in Qarmati Kufi while the upper and lower
lines are in Naskh script.
Three
molded stucco panels have been recovered from the Area IX
church. The first panel illustrates a foliated cross resembling
the Medieval Khatchkar, Armenian stone cross, used on memorial
stones. It was mounted on the exterior of the south wall of the
monastery church.
A
triangular shaped clay oil lamp, made by slab techique,
discovered by Jim Walker in locus 935019 at a depth of 5 cm.
beneath the surface of plaster floor 935019. The lamp measures
8.45 cm long, 6.0 cm. in width, and 2.3 cm. tall. It is brown
(7.5YR5/4) in color and greatly resembles a triangle shaped
stone lamp from Qasr al-Hayr East (Grabar et al. 1978:plate
Ap.66).
A
wheelmade hooded saucer discovered by Jim Walker in locus 945028
resting on plaster floor surface 945029 and 50 cm. beneath
plaster floor surface 945027. The lamp measures 6.5 by 7.3 cm.
and is 3.2 cm. tall. It is dark reddish brown (2.5YR3/4) with
very small traces of deteriorated green glaze. It is smaller
than the typical Ayyubid blue glazed hooded saucer lamps from
many areas at Tuneinir. It closely resembles the small hooded
saucer lamps discovered in the Seljuk loci in Area 2 during
1996.
A
slipper shaped clay oil lamp, moldmade, discovered by Jim Walker
in locus 924048 at a depth of 10 cm. below plaster floor surface
924049. The lamp measures 17.5 cm long by 6.4 cm. wide and 4.0
cm. tall. It is light yellowish brown (10YR6/4) with molded
decoration on the shoulder and decoration in the area between
the wick and fill holes. It belongs to the Umayyad or Early
Abbasid Period forms.
Small
blown glass bottle found in association with the human burials
in the north acrosolium. One interpretation is that the bottle
was a Chrism container for oil used in various ritual contexts
such as baptism, marriage and burial.
Pottery
ostracon discovered from Pat McWhorter in locus 924034. The
central design of the ostracon is a cross below several lines of
Syriac letters. The sherd is pink (5YR7/4) in color and the
inscription was executed in black paint that has faded over the
centuries.
Pottery
sherd decorated with incised designs, discovered by Pat
McWhorter in locus 925015. The incised design shows a figure
holding a staff and a second figure that may be upside-down. The
two sherds are part of a large jar that may have been decorated
with scenes of the monastery or the story of a saint's life.
Raised
relief design of a rosette in plaster discovered in locus
9370024. This panel fragment is very similar to panels
discovered in the Area 3 church and Area 9 monastery church |