Archaeologists have unearthed what could be the ancient remains of a synagogue in a village near Israel’s Sea of Galilee.

It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and incorporates parts of a fifth-century Roman synagogue known to contain stunning mosaics.

The placement of benches along the east, north, and west walls suggests that the ancient structure is a synagogue – but researchers say such a find is extremely rare in this setting, given the lack of a Jewish presence in the area at the time.

Archaeologists have unearthed what could be the ancient remains of a synagogue in a village near Israel’s Sea of Galilee. It was built during the 12th and 13th centuries, and incorporates parts of a fifth-century Roman synagogue known to contain stunning mosaics

HUQOQ EXCAVATIONS Researchers first discovered mosaics at the synagogue in Huqoq, Israel in 2012. Since then, excavations have been conducted every summer. They have since found mosaics depicting Samson and his foxes, and Samson carrying the gate of Gaza on his shoulders, both from the Bible. And, they've found a scene containing a Hebrew inscription surrounded by human figures, animals, and mythological creatures. The site also produced the first non-Biblical mosaic ever found in an ancient synagogue, showing the meeting between Alexander the Great and the Jewish high priest. Advertisement

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crusaders and Mamluks (a Muslim people) fought for control of the area around Huqoq, where the excavations are now taking place, Live Science reports.

The researchers have so far been unable to find evidence of a Jewish presence in the medieval records, apart from one of just a few textual references from the early 14th century, in which a traveller named Ishtori Haparchi reported seeing a ‘synagogue with a very old floor.’

Coupled with the benches found in the building, which are arranged in a style commonly seen in synagogues, Jodi Magness, director of the Huqoq excavation project, says the researchers ‘speculate that perhaps our building is that synagogue.’

While researchers aren’t quite sure what the medieval building was really used for, they say there is clear evidence that it was a public building, likely of religious importance.

‘A monumental public building was erected on the same spot as the late Roman synagogue, reusing some of the earlier structure’s architectural elements, but expanding it in size,’ Magness said during a presentation of the research in Toronto at the joint annual meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society for Classical Studies this month, Live Science reports.

‘Small patches of mosaics with geometric and floral designs were preserved on top of the floor.’

The researchers have so far been unable to find evidence of a Jewish presence in the medieval records, apart from one of just a few textual references from the early 14th century, in which a traveller named Ishtori Haparchi reported seeing a ‘synagogue with a very old floor’

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crusaders and Mamluks (a Muslim people) fought for control of the area around Huqoq, where the excavations are now taking place

According to Magness, the medieval building reuses the north and east walls of the Roman structure, along with ancient columns and pedestals.

These were placed on top of low walls, known as stylobates.

The fifth-century Roman structure atop which it’s built was previously discovered by the team, who revealed its brilliant mosaics depicting the stories of Noah’s Ark and the parting of the Red Sea.

Researchers say these scenes are extremely rare in such a setting, and only a handful of others have ever been found.

The mosaics decorate the floor of the ancient synagogue, with images of the Pharaoh's soldiers being swallowed by massive fish, overturned chariots, and animals of many kinds.

The mosaics decorate the floor of a fifth century synagogue, revealing images of the Pharaoh's soldiers being swallowed by massive fish, overturned chariots, and animals of many kinds. Researchers say these scenes are extremely rare in such a setting

The mosaics have since been removed from the site for conservation. They depict an arc and pairs of animals, including elephants, leopards, donkeys, snakes, bears, lions, ostriches, camels, sheep, and goats

Four schools are involved in the excavations at Huqoq, including Baylor University, the University of North Carolina, Brigham Young University, and the University of Toronto.

The researchers say this synagogue dates back to a time when the Roman Empire ruled the area, and the mosaics have since been removed from the site for conservation.

These ancient relics depict an arc and pairs of animals, including elephants, leopards, donkeys, snakes, bears, lions, ostriches, camels, sheep, and goats.

Nathan Elkins, is working to protect ancient coins from looting and smuggling. Pictured above, Elkins studies a coin found at the site

Along with this, the mosaics show images of Pharaoh's soldiers being swallowed by large fish, with overturned chariots, horses, and drivers surrounding them.

'These scenes are very rare in ancient synagogues,' said Jodi Magness, director of the excavations and professor in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's College of Arts and Sciences.

'The only other examples that have been found are at Gerasa/Jerash in Jordan and Mopsuestia/Misis in Turkey, and at Khirbet Wadi Hamam in Israel and Dura Europos in Syria.'

Researchers first found mosaics at the synagogue in 2012 and have since continued excavating the site, uncovering many more images.

In the time that's passed, they have found mosaics depicting Samson and his foxes, and Samson carrying the gate of Gaza on his shoulders, both from the Bible, along with a scene containing a Hebrew inscription surrounded by human figures, animals, and mythological creatures, including putti, or cupids.