Khirbat Al-Burj, Haifa
Khirbat Al-Burj Burj Binyamina | |
---|---|
Etymology: "The tower" in Arabic[1] | |
1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay map A series of historical maps of the area around Khirbat Al-Burj (click the buttons) | |
32°30′35″N 34°56′28″E / 32.50972°N 34.94111°E / 32.50972; 34.94111 | |
Palestine grid | 144/212 |
Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
Subdistrict | Haifa |
Current Localities | Binyamina |
Khirbat Al-Burj was a former Palestinian village, depopulated in 1948.[2] Presently, Khirbat Al-Burj (lit. "ruin of the tower") or Burj Binyamina is a ruined stone-built structure in the Sharon Plain 1 km south of Binyamina from the Ottoman period, situated at a crossroads and believed to be either a mansion connected to an estate, a fortified farmhouse, or a khan (caravanserai).[3]
History
Byzantine period
During June 2009, archeological excavations in the courtyard of the Burj building from the Ottoman period exposed a small building that dated to the Byzantine period (5th–7th centuries CE).[3] Byzantine ceramics have been found at the structure.[4]
Crusader period
A stone with Greek inscription was found at the burj site, which has been reused in a Crusader fortress.[4][dubious – discuss]
Late Ottoman and Mandate periods
In 1882, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP), which called it Burj el Kheil, described it as "A Baikeh or cattle-yard in the plain".[5]
Gottlieb Schumacher found in 1887 that the site had been settled since the PEF map was prepared, now consisting of "12 huts, moderate village".[6] A population list from about 1887 give for that place, called Burj el Kheil, about 105 inhabitants; all Muslims.[7]
On October 26, 1898, German Kaiser Wilhelm II stayed at the Burj khan (caravanserai) building during his visit to the Holy Land.[3]
Early Zionist activity
Turkish owner, Sidki Pasha, brother of Jamal Pasha, sold 4,000 dunams of the Burj farmland to ICA in 1903.[8] The serious drawback was that most of the land was an uncultivable swamp.[9] Rothschild turned the land over to Binyamina's holdings.[9] Initially a group of farmers from Zichron Ya'akov stayed at the khan during the week, due to the distance to their hometown. The group was called Burja’im.[3]
Binyamina (1922)
Subsequently, Binyamina was founded.[3] A letter from early 1920s describes establishment of Binyamina: "The 'Zichronim' [people of Zichron Ya'akov] owners of Burj farm decided to establish a moshavah in this farm, in order to settle their sons there…".[10]
Burj became Binyamina in 1922.[8] In the 1931 census Khirbat Al-Burj was listed under Binyamina.[11] The ownership of the village land was determined in 1934 according to the Land Settlement Ordinances.[12]
By the time of the 1945 village survey, there were 5,291 dunums, 15 of which were owned by Arabs, 4,933 owned by Jews, and 343 were public.[13][14]
The building, after renovations, now operates as an event venue.[15]
Arab population issue
In the 1945 Index Gazetteer, Khirbat Al-Burj was listed as a "village unit" but "no population".[16] According to Frantzman, the 1:20,000 map (produced 1924-1948) shows "a large structure, akin to a khan with no indication that it was populated".[16] According to Khalidi, Khirbat Al-Burj was a Palestinian village which was depopulated by Israelis in 1948.[2] Khalidi also says the "village" was "known for its citrus crops" and situated on "rolling terrain".[16]
Agriculture
The red sandy clay loam (hamra) soils from Binyamina to Gedera, west of the coastal plain, were not cultivated till the 20th century.[17] The original economy of Binyamina was citrus-based.[18]
Gallery
See also
- Tel Burga - archeological site 1 km east of Binyamina, just outside the village land of Khirbat Al-Burj.[19]
References
- ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 146
- ^ a b Khalidi, 1992, p. 156
- ^ a b c d e Masarwa, 2011, Benyamina, Burj Benyamina
- ^ a b Dauphin, 1998, p. 744
- ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p. 52
- ^ Schumacher, 1887a, p. 84
- ^ Schumacher, 1887b, p. 178
- ^ a b Ramat Hanadiv excavations: final report of the 1984-1998 seasons, by Yizhar Hirschfeld, Adrian J. Boas, p. 664
- ^ a b Avneri, 1984, p. 107
- ^ Document Regarding the Establishment of Binyamina, early 1920s
- ^ Mills, 1932, p. 88
- ^ Government of Palestine, The Palestine Gazette, Supplement 2 to Issue 475, 8 November 1934, p. 953.
- ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 48
- ^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 14
- ^ Burge Binyamina Event Venue
- ^ a b c "The Arab settlement of Late Ottoman and Mandatory Palestine: New Village Formation and Settlement Fixation, 1871-1948", Seth J. Frantzman, pp.71-72
- ^ The Jewish people in the first century: historical geography, political history, social, cultural and religious life and institutions. Vol. 2, by Samuel Safrai; M Stern, page 640
- ^ Jewish National Fund (1949). Jewish Villages in Israel. Jerusalem: Hamadpis Liphshitz Press. p. 24.
- ^ Survey of Palestine, map Caesarea 1:20,000, 1942. map 14-21.1942
Bibliography
- Avneri, Arieh L. (1984). The Claim of Dispossession: Jewish Land-settlement and the Arabs, 1878-1948. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0-87855-964-7.
- Conder, C.R.; Kitchener, H.H. (1882). The Survey of Western Palestine: Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and Archaeology. Vol. 2. London: Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
- Dauphin, C. (1998). La Palestine byzantine, Peuplement et Populations. BAR International Series 726 (in French). Vol. III: Catalogue. Oxford: Archeopress. ISBN 0-860549-05-4.
- Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics (1945). Village Statistics, April, 1945.
- Hadawi, S. (1970). Village Statistics of 1945: A Classification of Land and Area ownership in Palestine. Palestine Liberation Organization Research Center.
- Khalidi, W. (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
- Masarwa, Durar (2011-08-18). "Benyamina, Burj Benyamina" (123). Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - Mills, E., ed. (1932). Census of Palestine 1931. Population of Villages, Towns and Administrative Areas. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine.
- Palmer, E.H. (1881). The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer. Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
- Schumacher, G. (1887a). "Researches in the plain north of Caesarea". Quarterly Statement - Palestine Exploration Fund. 19: 95–84.
- Schumacher, G. (1887b). "Population list of the Liwa of Akka". Quarterly Statement - Palestine Exploration Fund. 19: 169–191.
External links
- Welcome To al-Burj, Khirbat
- Khirbat al-Burj (Haifa), Zochrot
- Survey of Western Palestine, Map 8: IAA, Wikimedia commons
- v
- t
- e
- Arab al-'Arida
- Arab al-Bawati
- Arab al-Safa
- al-Ashrafiyya
- al-Bira
- Beisan
- Danna
- Farwana
- al-Fatur
- al-Ghazzawiyya
- al-Hamidiyya
- al-Hamra
- Jabbul
- Kafra
- Kawkab al-Hawa
- al-Khunayzir
- Masil al-Jizl
- al-Murassas
- Qumya
- al-Sakhina
- al-Samiriyya
- Sirin
- Tall al-Shawk
- al-Taqa
- al-Tira
- Umm 'Ajra
- Umm Sabuna
- Yubla
- Zab'a
- al-Zawiya
- Arab Suqrir
- Barbara
- Barqa
- al-Batani al-Gharbi
- al-Batani al-Sharqi
- Bayt 'Affa
- Bayt Daras
- Bayt Jirja
- Bayt Tima
- Bil'in
- Burayr
- Dayr Sunayd
- Dimra
- al-Faluja
- Hamama
- Hatta
- Hiribya
- Huj
- Hulayqat
- Ibdis
- Iraq al-Manshiyya
- Iraq Suwaydan
- Isdud
- al-Jaladiyya
- al-Jiyya
- Julis
- al-Jura
- Jusayr
- Karatiyya
- Kawfakha
- Kawkaba
- al-Khisas
- al-Masmiyya al-Kabira
- al-Masmiyya al-Saghira
- al-Muharraqa
- Najd
- Ni'ilya
- Qastina
- al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya
- al-Sawafir al-Shamaliyya
- al-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya
- Simsim
- Summil
- Tall al-Turmus
- Yasur
- Abu Shusha
- Abu Zurayq
- Arab al-Fuqara
- Arab al-Nufay'at
- Arab Zahrat al-Dumayri
- 'Atlit
- Ayn Ghazal
- Ayn Hawd
- Balad al-Sheikh
- Barrat Qisarya
- Burayka
- al-Burj
- al-Butaymat
- Daliyat al-Rawha'
- al-Dumun
- al-Ghubayya al-Fawqa
- al-Ghubayya al-Tahta
- Hawsha
- Ijzim
- Jaba'
- al-Jalama
- Kabara
- al-Kafrayn
- Kafr Lam
- al-Kasayir
- Khubbayza
- Lid
- al-Manara
- al-Mansi
- al-Mansura
- al-Mazar
- Naghnaghiya
- Qannir
- Qira
- Qisarya
- Qumbaza
- al-Rihaniyya
- Sabbarin
- al-Sarafand
- al-Sarkas
- Sa'sa'
- al-Sawamir
- al-Shuna
- al-Sindiyana
- al-Tantura
- al-Tira
- Umm ash Shauf
- Umm az-Zinat
- Wa'arat al-Sarris
- Wadi Ara
- Yajur
- Allar
- Aqqur
- Artuf
- Bayt 'Itab
- Bayt Mahsir
- Bayt Naqquba
- Bayt Thul
- Bayt Umm al-Mays
- al-Burayj
- Dayr Aban
- Dayr 'Amr
- Dayr al-Hawa
- Dayr Rafat
- Dayr al-Shaykh
- Deir Yassin
- Ayn Karim
- Ishwa
- Islin
- Ism Allah
- Jarash
- al-Jura
- Kasla
- al-Lawz
- Lifta
- al-Maliha
- Nitaf
- al-Qabu
- Qalunya
- al-Qastal
- Ras Abu 'Ammar
- Sar'a
- Saris
- Sataf
- Sheikh Badr
- Suba
- Sufla
- al-Tannur
- al-'Umur
- al-Walaja
- Abu al-Fadl
- Abu Shusha
- Ajanjul
- Aqir
- Barfiliya
- al-Barriyya
- Bashshit
- Bayt Far
- Bayt Jiz
- Bayt Nabala
- Bayt Shanna
- Bayt Susin
- Bir Ma'in
- Bir Salim
- al-Burj
- al-Buwayra
- Daniyal
- Dayr Abu Salama
- Dayr Ayyub
- Dayr Muhaysin
- Dayr Tarif
- al-Duhayriyya
- al-Haditha
- Idnibba
- Innaba
- Jilya
- Jimzu
- Kharruba
- al-Khayma
- Khulda
- al-Kunayyisa
- al-Latrun
- Lydda
- al-Maghar
- Majdal Yaba
- al-Mansura
- al-Mukhayzin
- al-Muzayri'a
- al-Na'ani
- al-Nabi Rubin
- Qatra
- Qazaza
- al-Qubab
- al-Qubayba
- Qula
- Ramla
- Sajad
- Salbit
- Sarafand al-Amar
- Sarafand al-Kharab
- Saydun
- Shahma
- Shilta
- al-Tina
- al-Tira
- Umm Kalkha
- Wadi Hunayn
- Yibna
- Zakariyya
- Zarnuqa
- Abil al-Qamh
- al-'Abisiyya
- 'Akbara
- Alma
- Ammuqa
- Arab al-Shamalina
- Arab al-Zubayd
- Ayn al-Zaytun
- Baysamun
- Biriyya
- al-Butayha
- al-Buwayziyya
- Dallata
- al-Dawwara
- Dayshum
- al-Dirbashiyya
- al-Dirdara
- Fara
- al-Farradiyya
- Fir'im
- Ghabbatiyya
- Ghuraba
- al-Hamra'
- Harrawi
- Hunin
- al-Husayniyya
- Jahula
- al-Ja'una
- Jubb Yusuf
- Kafr Bir'im
- al-Khalisa
- Khan al-Duwayr
- Karraza
- al-Khisas
- Khiyam al-Walid
- Kirad al-Baqqara
- Kirad al-Ghannama
- Lazzaza
- Madahil
- Al-Malkiyya
- Mallaha
- al-Manshiyya
- al-Mansura
- Mansurat al-Khayt
- Marus
- Meiron
- al-Muftakhira
- Mughr al-Khayt
- al-Muntar
- al-Nabi Yusha'
- al-Na'ima
- Qabba'a
- Qadas
- Qaddita
- Qaytiyya
- al-Qudayriyya
- al-Ras al-Ahmar
- Sabalan
- Safsaf
- Saliha
- al-Salihiyya
- al-Sammu'i
- al-Sanbariyya
- Sa'sa'
- al-Shawka al-Tahta
- al-Shuna
- Taytaba
- Tulayl
- al-'Ulmaniyya
- al-'Urayfiyya
- al-Wayziyya
- Yarda, Safad
- al-Zahiriyya al-Tahta
- al-Zanghariyya
- Zawiya
- al-Zuq al-Fawqani
- al-Zuq al-Tahtani