| Qal'at Bustra | |
| Alternate Name: | Qalat Bustra, Qalaat Bustra, Harviya |
| Map Type: | Lebanon |
| Region: | Lebanon |
| Coordinates: | 33.2866°N 35.6688°W |
| Type: | farmhouse and Roman temple |
| Epochs: | Ancient Rome |
| Archaeologists: | Shim'on Dar |
| Condition: | Ruins |
Qal'at Bustra or Qalat Bustra is an archaeological site in Lebanon, close to the border of the Sheba Farms region of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, about 5 km ENE of Ghajar.[1] [2] It is situated on a peak of height 786m with a panoramic westward view.[1] Qal'at Bustr (that means "castle at Bustra") is believed to be an ancient Roman sanctuary and was excavated by Israeli archaeologists. Remains found at the site include a farmhouse and temple dating from the Hellenistic and Roman period.[1] [3]
Archaeological surveys were first made in 1970–1972, who named the place Harviya.[1] In 1990 a second expedition, carried out under the auspices of Bar Ilan University's Department of Land of Israel Studies, learned from local Arabs that the place is called Qal'at Bustra.[1] The investigations revealed stelae and evidence of cultic activity dating to the Hellenistic period or earlier which continued into the Roman period.[4] A farmhouse and temple discovered at the site have been dated to the Hellenistic and Roman periods (third century BCE to third-fourth centuries CE).[1]
The farmstead is located at the center of a large farmyard,[1] surrounded by well-built stone walls. It has many rooms that served different purposes.[1] A villa-like structure contained a tower which is still visible.[1] The surrounding farmland counts remains of many structures, including buildings, walls.[1] Water cisterns with unusually large capacity for the region were found.[1]
At the highest point of the peak, there are the remains a Roman temple covering about 100 square meters.[1] Only the foundations, the foundation stones, and one course of stones are preserved.[1] Discoveries in the temenos of the temple included eleven coins that were dated between the third century BCE and the third century CE.[2] One was dated to the reign of Herod Antipas.[5] Parts of a marble statue that include a male foot wearing a sandal was also recovered; it was probably a local deity worshipped at the temple.[1] [6] A collection of snails were also found.[7] Various animal bones were discovered and dated to the 5th century CE including sheep, goats, cattle and a chicken.[8] [9]
The farmhouse is similar to others in the mount Hermon's area.[10]