Khirbet Chanat

All the information about Khirbet Chanat: Khirbet Chanat is a special site where there is still a khan in the place—a spot for parking on the ancient road from Gaza to Jerusalem. What is amazing about the place is its mosaic floor. The site is free of charge. It is on the road from Tzur Hadassah (southwest of Jerusalem) to the Ela Valley, right after the settlement of Matan. The educational aspect of the site is unique: when the mosaic floor is covered with sand, and inside the old walls of the ruin there are brooms, so you can sweep and "discover" the mosaic. The sand preserves the mosaic. There is no guarding or maintenance of the site, so it is preserved thanks to and despite the hikers—meaning you need to spread sand back over the mosaic at the end of your visit. As mentioned, until 2012 visitors were invited to feel what archaeological work is like and to uncover the magnificent mosaic, which includes familiar motifs from animal mosaics, and more, by moving the sand. In 2012 the mosaic was vandalized, and on the building's walls the following writings were sprayed: "The depth of destruction is like the depth of desecration" and "Shuka, you're next in line," where Shuka refers to Yehoshua (Shuka) Dorffman, Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Today you can see the vandalized mosaic and regret the behavior of the bullies. Ein Matan and Ein Tanur saw a detailed hiking route at the site: Khirbet Chanat and the Caesar's Trail.