Giv'ot Bar (Hebrew: גִּבְעוֹת בַּר, lit. Grain Hills) is a community settlement in the northern Negev desert of southern Israel. Located to the south of Rahat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bnei Shimon Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 1,328.[1]
Giv'ot Bar
גִּבְעוֹת בַּר غفعوت بار | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: Grain Hills | |
  Giv'ot Bar | |
| Coordinates: 31°21′24″N 34°45′22″E / 31.35667°N 34.75611°E | |
| Country | Israel |
| District | Southern |
| Council | Bnei Shimon |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Population (2022)[1] | 1,328 |
History edit
The village was established in 2004. Initially there were problems with acquiring the land from the Bedouins living in the area, but in 2004 mobile homes were moved onto the site. The village's name was given to it due to the wheat silos in the surrounding farms and the fact that it was located in a hilly area.
Archaeology edit
A monastery complex associated with the Byzantine period was discovered in the village.[2] The complex includes a central building measuring approximately 20 by 20 metres that rose to a height of two stories, as well as a toilet wing measuring approximately 35 by 35 metres in which warehouses, the water cistern and possibly also a barn, a goat shed and other service facilities were found.
In the monastery a mosaic floor was discovered. The decoration includes two peacocks facing each other with an amphora between them. From the amphora comes a vine forming five medallions in two rows. In the bottom row there is a donkey (or rabbit) in the right medallion and two baskets with grapes (or loaves of bread) in the left medallion. In the top row there is a bird with its head down (above the donkey) and a fish above the baskets and between the two in the middle is a human figure in a prayer position.
References edit
- ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
- ^ "מנזר מהתקופה הביזאנטית בצפון הנגב". Israel Antiquities Authority.