This research project aims to digitally reconstruct the early 6th century Byzantine church complex at Horvat Beit Loya, often referred to as “Beit Lehi,” to understand its evolution and architectural elements. An earlier expedition to the site to document the existing conditions and capture the measurements of the church complex was conducted by an interdisciplinary team from Utah Valley University (UVU) in May 2023. The on-site measured drawings from Brandon Ro and Jayne Lee were used to verify previous archaeological drawings and digitally reconstruct architectural elements such as columns and cornices. Building on insights from regional early Christian churches and scholarly works, the project also analyzed recurring architectural elements from the 4th, 5th, and 6th century churches in the region. This study also compared and integrated student proposals from the ARC 4110 – Fall 2023 design studio course at UVU to inform the digital recreation process. By incorporating common architectural features observed in existing structures and proposed designs, the current digital model aims to represent an accurate depiction of the basilica at Beit Loya. Through this process, the study discovered additional architectural details, such as the significance of a central wooden column at the entryway, which helped shed light on the basilica’s historical context and architectural evolution. Through this digital reconstruction, the research seeks to contribute to our understanding of Byzantine architecture and provide insights for conservation efforts and historical reconstructions. Ultimately, this study aims to illuminate the past and preserve the architectural heritage of Beit Loya for future generations.

CITATION: Cryer, Thomas, Joseph Laudie, and Brandon Ro, “Recreating the Past: A Digital Exploration of the 6th Century Basilica at Horvat Beit Loya.” Poster presented at the 2024 Intermountain Engineering, Technology and Computing Conference, Utah State University, Logan, UT, May 13-14, 2024.