Archaeologists discover possible medieval synagogue near Sea of Galilee

Archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of a medieval building that could have functioned as a synagogue at the site of Huqoq, near the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

The building, which was constructed between the 12th to 13th centuries, sits on top of the ruins of a fifth-century Roman synagogue that contains striking mosaics, Live Science reported.

Last June, archaeologists discovered two mosaic panels that depict prominent Biblical scenes. One panel showed the parting of the Red Sea, with soldiers being swallowed by large fish, while the other depicted Noah's ark, with animals, such as lions, leopards and bears.

Jodi Magness, the director of the Huqoq excavation project, presented the research at the joint annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society for Classical Studies in Toronto this month.

Some of the remains of the fifth-century synagogue were reused in the medieval building. Magness said that the medieval builders reused the north and east walls of the ancient synagogue, along with the ancient columns and pedestals.

While it is unknown what the medieval building was used for, Magness maintained that it was clearly a public building. She stated that the building was likely a church, a mosque or a synagogue. Historical accounts say that the Crusaders fought against the Mamluks (a Muslim people) for the control of the area around Huqoq in the 12th and 13th centuries.

While there is no historical information about a Jewish population in the area at that time, there is one clue that suggests that the building was a synagogue. Benches that line the east, north and west walls were discovered by the archaeologists. Magness noted that such benches are commonly seen in synagogues.

"So far, I've found very little evidence of a Jewish presence in the area, which makes this structure both extremely exciting and frustrating," said Arnold Franklin, a history professor at Queens College of the City University of New York.

Another clue comes from an account of an early 14th-century traveler named Ishtori Haparchi, who "visited Huqoq — then called Yakuk — and reported seeing a 'synagogue with a very old floor.' We speculate that perhaps our building is that synagogue," Magness said.