Halutza — Elusa Western Quarter
Nabataean to Byzantine (300 BCE–636 CE)·Nabataean (Elusa/Elusates)·🇮🇱 Southern District, Israel
About
About Halutza — Elusa Western Quarter
Halutza — Elusa Western Quarter in Southern District, Israel is a Nabataean to Byzantine (300 BCE–636 CE) ancient-city attributed to Nabataean (Elusa/Elusates). Western quarter of Elusa main Negev Nabataean capital before Petra road shift. Elusa western suburbs with Nabataean theatre 800 seats and Byzantine church.
Why it mattersKey Negev–Anatolian highland site
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Desert agriculture technology
- 02Roman frontier model
Theories
- 01Incense trade water management
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 300 BCE
- Period
- Nabataean to Byzantine (300 BCE–636 CE)
- Culture
- Nabataean (Elusa/Elusates)
- Purpose
- Western quarter of Elusa main Negev Nabataean capital before Petra road shift
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 300 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Systematic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
31.0900° N · 34.6500° E · 200 m · 3 mapped features
Halutza — Elusa Western Quarter — Enclosure Circuit
wallsEnclosing walls or terrace walls
31.0901° N · 34.6501° EHalutza — Elusa Western Quarter — Church/Mosque Annex
churchByzantine church or mosque
31.0898° N · 34.6502° EHalutza — Elusa Western Quarter — Cistern Cluster
cisternPlastered cisterns
31.0904° N · 34.6498° E