The “Shepherds’ Field” in Beit Sahour (Bethlehem – PS). New archaeological research in the Byzantine monastery

This paper presents the results of the first excavation campaign conducted by the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology (PIAC) at the monastic site of the Shepherds’ Field (Beit Sahour, Palestine). The project is made possible by an agreement with the Custody of the Holy Land and also has the approval of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Palestine. The project aims to enrich scientific knowledge, through archaeological investigations, of the monastery built on the site where, according to the Gospel of Luke, an angel announced the birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ to the shepherds, but also to contribute to its protection and enhancement. During the first excavation campaign, which is presented here, the PIAC team concentrated on the liturgical area of the monastery, already partly investigated by Father Virginio C. Corbo in the 1950s, partly confirming the insights of the great Franciscan archaeologist and partly bringing significant novelties. The aim in the coming years will be to extend the investigations to areas of the monastery that have not yet been excavated.