Historical and archaeological analysis of the Church of the Nativity

Abstract

History of archaeological excavations Archaeological analysis of architecture History of architecture a b s t r a c tThe team has considered the special status of the Basilica of Bethlehem, which is not just a monument of outstanding historic and artistic importance, but also and fundamentally a holy place, that has long been and is still perceived as a memorial site, marking the place of Christ's birth and transcribing into a sacred topography the main events of the Gospel narratives. Because of such a peculiarity, the team considered that it was indispensable to analyze the Basilica of Bethlehem from different viewpoints, namely those of archaeological and historical research. The historical approach aims at understanding the centuries-old development of the holy site as a ritual space and the materialized expression of holiness, the ways in which it has been perceived and used, and the messages that it was meant to convey to its beholders. It combines the findings of previous archaeological research with the data provided by the analysis of written evidence, including old textual sources about the Basilica (especially chronicles and pilgrims'accounts). For the archaeological study of the Basilica of the Nativity, we used the methodology of its investigation of the Archeology of Architecture. Stratigraphical analysis was carried out in relation to various portions of the church walls, as well as in relation to the buildings that make up the whole complex, in order to understand the dynamics of major changes in the structure in its entirety. Direct analysis of evidence from the walls was supported by the reading of existing literature and historical maps with particular reference to the plans of the church.These tools of investigation have been applied to the analysis of the church in its entirety, including its underground cavities.

The narthex of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem: A non-linear finite element approach to predict the structural damage

“…Moreover, it was known [4] that all the Eastern area, including part of the nave, the transept and the apse, had undergone significant modifications over the centuries due to events not documented historically, but that might be also related to earthquakes. Traces of such modifications can be found in the buffered windows of the upper level in correspondence with the corners between transept and apse and between transept and nave, Figs.…”

“…The narthex that we see now (or at least the narthex that we can imagine on the basis of the current volumes or the traces of some ancient and still visible openings on the walls) replaced a larger cloister in the second half of the VI century; such a cloister belonged to the previous Church, ordered by Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, in the IV century. From the outcomes of some archaeological excavations made by Hamilton [1] in the thirties of the last century and from the results of some subsequent studies [2,4], it was possible to go back to the original form of the narthex; differently from now, it was composed of a single volume, had a bigger central door flanked by two smaller side doors in both the principal walls and two windows placed symmetrically with respect to the front door, Fig. 1.…”

Identifying the Wood of Historic Artefacts: Basic Information or Simply a Curiosity?

“…These can be considered basic results necessary for restoration. But the results obtained have allowed us to have interesting elements for the historical study of one of the most important buildings of Christianity [19]. The identifications of timbers and dendrochronological and C14 datings have allowed to shed light on the different phases of construction, restoration and maintenance of the building and in particular of roof carpentry [20,21].…”

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem: Analysis of a Local Structural Consolidation

“…According to the most recent studies [2], the Church of the Nativity was completely re-built upon the remains of Constantine's previous Church (fifth century AD) in the sixth century AD by Emperor Justinian. Its longitudinal body, which is slightly longer than the previous footprint (Fig.…”