A specific variety of glass cup with vertical ribs
that has been found in many parts of the monastery, but not commonly
found in the other parts of Tuneinir. The most likely function is
that it functioned as a glass oil lamp.
Drawing of a glass beaker/lamp from Square 52, locus 02.
Fragments of a glass ampula found in Square 57, Locus 08. This artifact
closely resembles a chrism ampulla found in Area 3. Such vessels were used
to hold Holy Water or Holy Oil.
Fragment of a broken piece of bronze decoration
found in the monastic cells. The horizontal arms of a forked/split
arm cross probably belonged to an incense bowl. It is also possible
that the cross crowned the top of a wooden staff. The artifact was
probably kept as a momento by a monk or nun. No additional pieces
of the original object have been discovered in the monastery.
An Iron ladle which was
cast as single piece. The size and weight would suggest use in some
form of light industrial use though it may have been used in food
preparation.
An Iron artifact which appears
to be a mold or manufacturing tool.
A horse bit manufactured out of iron from Square 36, locus 6.
An Iron knive from square 34, locus 11.
Iron nails from the door that had crushed a martyr. The
nails were found in Square 35, locus 22.
An antique door in Damascus with iron hardware like the
nails found in Square 35, locus 22..
A bronze rod found in the monastic cells. Probably
used as a stirring rod and writing stylus. Similar artifacts in
the market have been considered for eye makeup, but that seems unlikely
in a monastery.
A bronze spoon found in the monastic cells. Discovered in
Square 33, locus 10..
A bronze artifact made to encase the end of a leather belt from Square 35, locus 07.
Drawings of the bronze belt fitting from Square 35, locus 07.
Late Byzantine style bowl with incised rim decoration from Square 32,
locus 005. Identical broken bowl fragments were recovered from the surface
survey of the Area 9 monastic church.
A number of tar lined jars including one with a Syriac inscription
as they were found, in situ, in the area of the monastic cells.
Another view of the tar lined sherds.
A very common artifact in the monastery at Tell
Tuneinir is a locally produced food bowls that has a grooved out-turned
rim. It is very likely that they were produced by the potters who
belonged to the monastery. This bowl form was not found in the Ayyubid
Period pottery kiln yard, market, or residences. The bowl was excavated
in Area 11, Square 33, Locus 10 by Amanda Young, 2000. The core
is light red (2.5YR6/6) with a very pale brown slip (10YR8/4). The
diameter of the bowl is 28 cm.and measures 6.9 cm. from base to
rim.
An intact pottery cylinder decorated with a casually
incised wavy line pattern and horizontal incised lines. Discovered
in Area 11, Square 23, Locus 002 by Amanda Young, 2000. The vessel
is 14.25 cm. tall and 13 cm. tall with a thickness of 6.4 mm. It
weights 550 grams. Core is pink (5YR7/3) and exterior is pink (5YR7/4).
Mohammed Kholi (former director of Islamic Antiquities at the Damascus
Museum) had considered this form to date to the Umayyad Period based
upon a few unprovenienced pieces. It is a rare pottery form without
parallel at Tuneinir.
The cylindrical pottery vessel was discovered directly
associated with an crushed storage jar. It is possible that the
cylindrical vessel served to measure material (liquid or dry) taken
from the storage jar. Discovered in Square 23, Locus 02.
A waterwheel jar with broken foot was being recycled
for another use in the monastic cells. Discovered in Area 11, Square
22, Locus 006 by Robert McWhorter, 2000. It measures 33 cm high
and 17 cm at its widest. The cla is light red (10R6/8) with a pinkish
gray (5YR7/2) slip. Weight 1250 grams.
A "short" storage jar with wide mouth found in Square 56 and locus 09.
A two handle jug decorated with casually incised
wavy lines. Produced in the monastery workshop and used for water
and/or wine. Discovered in Square 23, Locus 013
In situ photograph of the two handle jug decorated with casually incised
wavy lines. Produced in the monastery workshop and used for water
and/or wine. Discovered in Square 22, Locus 02.
A two handled jug produced in the monastery pottery
kilns. It is decorated with two bands of incised wavy lines and
three bands of incised horizontal bands. Discovered in
Square 22, Locus 002 by Robert McWhorter, 2000. Rim diameter is
12 cm. and total vessel length would have been appxorimately 50
cm. Light red (2.5YR6/6) core with a light reddish brown (5YR6/4)
slip.
Typical style of Late Byzantine/Early Islamic lamp
from the monastic cells. The worn nature of the lamp suggests its
use over several decades or centuries.
Mold made clay oil lamp from the monastic cells
with decoration along the shoulder and within the channel nozzle.
Found in Square 34, locus 11.
Worn clay oil lamp from the monastic cells with
lamp soot preserved around the wick hole.
Worn clay oil lamp from the monastic cells with
lamp soot preserved around the wick hole.
Fragment of a large storage jar that bears the world
"NUAH" written in Aramaic letters using tar. The tar lined
interior of the storage jar typical of wine jars. This discovery
plus other evidence points to a probable name of the monastery:
Deir Nuah "The Monastery of Noah." The storage jar was
found in Area 11, Square 36, Locus 02 by Terry McClur, 2000. The
sherds measures 24.9 cm. long by 14.8 cm. wide and its 1.3 cm. thick.
It weighs 302 grams. The core color is 5YR 6/6 and the exterior
color is 7.5YR7/4.
An intact waterwheel jar found in the monastic cells.
Discovered in Area 11, Square 23, Locus 013 by Amanda Young, 2000.
The vessel measures 32 cm. tall, and 16 cm. at its widest point.
The core of the vessel is light reddish brown (5YR6/3) and the exterior
is pinkish gray (705YR7/2)..
An intact waterwheel jar and associated clay oil
lamp found on the floor of the monastic cells. The number of complete
objects from the monastic cells points to a rapid abandonment and
burial.
A very rare artifact from the monastery - a piece of decorated pottery.
A light green ware molded sherd from Square 33, locus 11.
Large jawbone (or a donkey or horse?) found in the ruins of Area 11.
Broken pottery stand with applied decoration.
Cooking pot found in Area 11.
Erica Doerre uncovered a series of intact and crushed pottery vessels in Area 11 during summer of 1999.
Tar lined storage jar body sherds, a base and neck found in Area 11 during summer of 1999. These vessels are interrupted as
storage jars "trashed" during the destruction of the monastery complex during the Middle Ages.
Photographic credit: Professor David Hanlon, SLCC-MC
Webpage created 28 February 2005.
Webpage migrated 1 April 2008
Webpage updated 25 December 2008