Adullam Grove Nature Reserve

Adullam Grove Nature Reserve (Hebrew: שמורת טבע חורש עדולם) is a nature reserve in central Israel, south of Beit Shemesh, managed by the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority.

Adullam Grove Nature Reserve
שמורת טבע חורש עדולם
LocationCentral Israel
Nearest cityBeit Shemesh
Coordinates31.6522848°N 34.95609°E / 31.6522848; 34.95609
Area6,532 dunams (6.532 km2; 2.522 sq mi)
Established1994

Nature reserve
Ruins of Byzantine church, Khirbet Midras, 2010

The reserve was established in 1994, covering 5,380 dunams (5.38 km2; 2.08 sq mi) and was extended to include another 1,152 dunams (1.152 km2; 0.445 sq mi) in 2004.[1] The reserve was declared in order to protect Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub that grow naturally in the area.

Colombarium at Hurvat Midras

Archaeology
Further information: Hurvat Itri and Hurvat Burgin

Horvat Midras (Hebrew) or Khirbet Midras (Arabic), sometimes spelled Madras, dated to the 10th century BCE until approximately the 4th century CE, is located within the boundaries of the reserve.[2] Burial caves, hiding tunnels and caves used during the Bar Kokhba revolt in 132-135 CE, a columbarium, and a burial pyramid were discovered at the site.[3]

Hurvat Itri - remains of a partially restored Jewish village from the Second Temple period and the Bar Kokhba revolt,[4] containing mikvehs, a synagogue, wine presses, and burial caves.

Hurvat Borgyn - remains of a 2nd-century CE settlement, including fortifications, wells, burial caves, a wine press, and other agriculture oriented finds.

Flora and fauna

Flora include Buckthorn trees (Rhamnus palaestinus), Oak trees, Greek Strawberry trees, Pistacia lentiscus trees, and various types of Cistus and Hyssop.[5]

See also
General landscape of the Adullam-France Park in Israel
The entrance to a dovecote (columbarium) in the Midras Ruin

References
  1. "List of National Parks and Nature Reserves" (PDF) (in Hebrew). Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  2. שמורת טבע חורש עדולם - חורבת מדרס [Adullam Woods nature reserve - Hurvat Midras] (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  3. Madras ruins in Park Adullam
  4. Boaz Zissu & Amir Ganor, Horvat Ethri — A Jewish Village from the Second Temple Period and the Bar Kokhba Revolt in the Judean Foothills, Journal of Jewish Studies 60 (1), Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, London 2009, pp. 92—96.
  5. "Adullam Nature Reserve" (in Hebrew). iNature.info. Retrieved 2010-12-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.