Robert B. J. Mason

Near and Middle-Eastern Civilizations (NMC)
University of Toronto

Deir Mar Musa Environment

The natural history component of the planned Deir Mar Musa museum

The natural history of the area begins with the land itself, which is limestone. The rock is riddled with caves, mostly unexplored, which would have housed prehistoric humans, and medieval monks, but also now provides homes for bats and other wildlife! Although an arid area, there is significant wildlife, including reptiles (see image #1), insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals.

This area is presently proposed to become a National Park, and an important point will be with current efforts to reverse the trend of desertification in the region. Rarely there is evidence of older vegetation in the region (see image #2, a small but very old tree near a well in the plateau to the west of the monastery), with most vegetation suffering from the depredadtions of the goat population. Goats have now been banned from the area of the National Park, and the vegetation is slowly recovering (see image #3).

Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi
Home page for the project
Archaeology
Survey and excavations in the area of the monastery.
People
Members of the community, members of the project
Museum & Interpretive Centre
Planning a new facility to house the finds, and an interpretive centre
Finds
Objects from the restoration of the monastery to be exhibited in the museum
Environment
Natural history component of the planned museum
Church Frescoes
Medieval wall paintings, and their recreation in the museum