West Church

Occupation:
Late Byzantine to Umayyad

Size:                                   
40 m E-W by  20 m N-S

Field Seasons:           
1984



The West Church, located in the northwest sector of the Byzantine town, is distinctive for its spectacular arched partition between the nave and the south side aisle. The windows above the arches indicate that it was built as a typical clerestory basilica. This church is the largest of the fifteen churches at Umm el-Jimal, but is relatively late and not the best built. Because it is located in a walled enclosure butted against the outside of the town wall, it may have had a private, monastic function.