Tell Umm Amer
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official nameTell Umm Amer
LocationState of Palestine
CriteriaCultural: World Heritage selection criterion (ii), World Heritage selection criterion (iii), World Heritage selection criterion (vi)
Coordinates31°26'49.92000"N, 34°21'58.68000"E

Tell Umm el-'Amr, also known as Tell Umm Amer, is an archaeological site located in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Deir el-Balah governorate, Gaza Strip.

Location

Tell Umm el-ʿAmr is located in the dune landscapes south of the mouth of the Wadi Ghazzeh in the area of the Al Nusairat refugee camp, about 5.28 miles south of Gaza City.[1] The distance to the Mediterranean coast is 1000-2000 feet. In the east and southeast of the Tell Umm el-'Amr site, there are palm groves that form a border with the neighboring town of Deir al-Balah. The archaeological site covers an area of approximately 46000 square feet.[2]

History

Uncovered by local archaeologists in 1999, the Tell Umm el-'Amr site was active from the 4th to the 8th century and contains Christian artifacts.[3] Currently, the site consists of the monastery of Saint Hilarion; as well as religious buildings (e.g. church, cloister) and all the outbuildings necessary for the life of the monks (e.g. miscellaneous room, dormitory). Additionally, the archaeologists found a hotel complex and baths probably used by visiting pilgrims at the site. The Saint Hilarion Monastery is dedicated to Hilarion of Gaza and is recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO.[4]

Preservation and protection

In 2012, a request for UNESCO world heritage status was submitted by the state of Palestine 1.[4]

In 2013, fundraising was launched in order to be able to carry out excavations on the site and put in place protection measures 2.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Rami K. Isaac, C. Michael Hall, Freya Higgins-Desbiolles. The Politics and Power of Tourism in Palestine. Routledge. p. 137-148. ISBN 9781138592285.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Elter, René; Hassoune, Ayman (1 January 2008). "Le complexe du bain du monastère de Saint Hilarion à Umm el-'Amr, première synthèse architecturale". Syria. Archéologie, art et histoire (in French). pp. 129–144. doi:10.4000/syria.474.
  3. ↑ "Tell Umm El-'Amr (Saint Hilarion Monastery)". World Monuments Fund. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  4. 1 2 mondial, UNESCO Centre du patrimoine. "Tell Umm Amer". UNESCO Centre du patrimoine mondial (in French). Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  5. ↑ "Sauver Saint-Hilarion à Gaza, le plus vieux monastère de Terre sainte". Le Point (in French). 2013-06-04. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
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