Khawabi
In 1908-1910, Harvard University went deep into sabastiya, and made plans to rebuild the village. In Harvard's expedition diaries, a large number of words and pictures confirm the fact that the diggers bought land from farmers. In The Harvard Samaria Excavation Book No.1 Details are given about compensation for excavations during the survey. Much of the land used for agriculture was lost during this time.
The dependence and close interaction of the family land and domestic activity with agriculture is reflected in the internal organization of the house. People, animals and produce are placed under a roof with an entrance, and the house is divided into corresponding zones at different levels, symbolizing the different values assigned to the various parts of the house.In the family space, the displayed cube sculpture hints at the connection between agriculture and the family space, which was created to show the dependence and close interaction of the family land with agriculture. We expect people to pay attention to this storage space and the changes in it.
Qa 'el-Beit literally means "the bottom of the house" and refers to the entrance area used as a service area.
The same is true of grain, wheat, sesame, lentils, dried figs and other agricultural products, all placed on high places beyond the reach of animals. In the middle of the Mastabeh, this is where the family's food storage (muneh) is stored in large mud bins (Khawabi) or in small mud bins or buckets.
Khawabi is an important feature of sebastia village architecture, with traditional seed storages built inside the home to preserve grain for planting and annual consumption.
“The chief festive events(farah)in the life of a Palestinian peasant or townman are three in number:
marriage,
the birth of male children
and the acquisition of a new house”(Cana’ 1993:58)
