Annotated Aerial photo of Aphek Photo 3

View of site during excavation and restoration work taken on July 4, 1980, looking north-northwest, at edge of Nahal Dalton.

Meyers et al (2009)


Names

Transliterated Name Source Name
en-Nabratein Hebrew נבוריה
Kefar Neburaya Arabic
Introduction

A Jewish synagogue was excavated at en-Nabratein in the Upper Galilee just north of Safed. Eric M. Meyers in Stern et al (1993) reports that another Early Arab period site with the same name is to be found at a slightly higher elevation just to the south and may reflect the Arabic tradition that identifies the site by the dual form in its name.

Maps and Plans Chronology
Phasing

Meyers, et al. (2009) presented Phasing as follows

Period Age Date Phase
I Early Roman 1-ca. 135 CE ‎Period I is pre-synagogue, but it does have structural remains related to those of subsequent periods
II Middle Roman ca. 135 - ca. 250 CE ‎(Synagogue 1)
III Late Roman ca. 250-363 CE
IIIa Late Roman ca. 250-306 CE ‎(Synagogue 2a)
IIIb Late Roman ca. 306-363 CE ‎(Synagogue 2b)
IV Byzantine and Early Arab ca. 564-700 CE (Synagogue 3)‎

End of Phase IIIa Earthquake

Meyers, et al. (2009) performed excavations of what they labeled Synagogue 2 at en-Nabratein. They subdivided the life of this structure into two phases of Period III (Late Roman, A.D. 250-350/363)

Period Age Date Phase
I Early Roman 1-ca. 135 CE ‎Period I is pre-synagogue, but it does have structural remains related to those of subsequent periods
II Middle Roman ca. 135 - ca. 250 CE ‎(Synagogue 1)
III Late Roman ca. 250-363 CE
IIIa Late Roman ca. 250-306 CE ‎(Synagogue 2a)
IIIb Late Roman ca. 306-363 CE ‎(Synagogue 2b)
IV Byzantine and Early Arab ca. 564-700 CE (Synagogue 3)‎
Meyers et al (1982) dated Period III phase a using ceramics and some coins and end phase a with the Eusebius' Martyr Quake of ~306 AD which they believed damaged the synagogue and led to rebuilding. The rebuilding effort initiated Period III phase b. The end of Period III phase b is not precisely dated with material remains. Ceramics and "an irregular supply of coins dating up to ca. 350 A.D." provide the earliest possible date for the end of Period III phase b. The authors state that the end of Period III phase b "is perhaps to be understood as a combination of factors, mainly the revolt against Caesar Gallus (A.D. 350-52), general economic hardships, and the great earthquake of A.D. 363". By the 7th decade of the 4th century AD, the authors consider the site to have been virtually abandoned until a third synagogue was established towards the end of the Byzantine era in A.D. 564; according to an inscription.

Magness (2010) examined the reports of Meyers, Strange, and Meyers (1982) paying attention to stratigraphic levels and chronological information and concluded that the first (and only) Synagogue built on the site occurred "no earlier than the second half of the fourth century, and point to occupation and activity precisely during the centuries when the excavators claim the site was abandoned." A coin of 341-346 from the east wall and pottery suggests a terminus post quem of the second half of the 4th century for the synagogue's construction. Other evidence leads to a terminus ante quem of the second half of the 5th century or later (mid 6th century). There is also the inscription which states that the synagogue was built or remodeled in 564 AD (Magness, 2010). Meyers and Meyers (2010) rebutted Magness (2010) analysis of the stratigraphy and chronology discussing intricate details of sloping bedrock, lensed stratigraphy, later disturbance of the site, the coin of 341-346 not being in the wall but in earthen fill, etc. etc.

End of Phase IIIb Earthquake

Meyers, et al. (2009) performed excavations of what they labeled Synagogue 2 at en-Nabratein. They subdivided the life of this structure into two phases of Period III (Late Roman, A.D. 250-350/363)

Period Age Date Phase
I Early Roman 1-ca. 135 CE ‎Period I is pre-synagogue, but it does have structural remains related to those of subsequent periods
II Middle Roman ca. 135 - ca. 250 CE ‎(Synagogue 1)
III Late Roman ca. 250-363 CE
IIIa Late Roman ca. 250-306 CE ‎(Synagogue 2a)
IIIb Late Roman ca. 306-363 CE ‎(Synagogue 2b)
IV Byzantine and Early Arab ca. 564-700 CE (Synagogue 3)‎
Meyers et al (1982) dated Period III phase a using ceramics and some coins and end phase a with the Eusebius' Martyr Quake of ~306 AD which they believed damaged the synagogue and led to rebuilding. The rebuilding effort initiated Period III phase b. The end of Period III phase b is not precisely dated with material remains. Ceramics and "an irregular supply of coins dating up to ca. 350 A.D." provide the earliest possible date for the end of Period III phase b. The authors state that the end of Period III phase b "is perhaps to be understood as a combination of factors, mainly the revolt against Caesar Gallus (A.D. 350-52), general economic hardships, and the great earthquake of A.D. 363". By the 7th decade of the 4th century AD, the authors consider the site to have been virtually abandoned until a third synagogue was established towards the end of the Byzantine era in A.D. 564; according to an inscription.

Magness (2010) examined the reports of Meyers, Strange, and Meyers (1982) paying attention to stratigraphic levels and chronological information and concluded that the first (and only) Synagogue built on the site occurred "no earlier than the second half of the fourth century, and point to occupation and activity precisely during the centuries when the excavators claim the site was abandoned." A coin of 341-346 from the east wall and pottery suggests a terminus post quem of the second half of the 4th century for the synagogue's construction. Other evidence leads to a terminus ante quem of the second half of the 5th century or later (mid 6th century). There is also the inscription which states that the synagogue was built or remodeled in 564 AD (Magness, 2010). Meyers and Meyers (2010) rebutted Magness (2010) analysis of the stratigraphy and chronology discussing intricate details of sloping bedrock, lensed stratigraphy, later disturbance of the site, the coin of 341-346 not being in the wall but in earthen fill, etc. etc.

Notes and Further Reading
References

Magness, J. (2010). "The Ancient Synagogue at Nabratein." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (358): 61-68.

Meyers, E. M., et al. (1982). "Second Preliminary Report on the 1981 Excavations at en-Nabratein, Israel." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research(246): 35-54.

Meyers, E. M., et al. (2009). Excavations at Ancient Nabratein: Synagogue and Environs, American Schools of Oriental Research.

Meyers, E. M. and C. L. Meyers (2010). "Response to Jodi Magness's Review of the Final Publication of Nabratein." Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research(359): 67-76.

Bibliography from Stern et al (1993)

General

Conder-Kitchener, SWP I

Kohl-Watzinger, Synagogen, 101-106

Goodenough, Jewish Symbols l, 203-204

N. Avigad, Rabinowitz Bulletin 3 (1960), 49-56

E. M. Meyers, ASOR Newsletter (Sept. 1980), 3-11; id. (et al.), BASOR 244 (1981), l-25; 246 (1982), 35-54

id., IEJ 31 (1981), 108-110

32 (1982), 139-141

id., RB 88 (1981), 592-595; id., The Synagogue in Late Antiquity (ed. L. I. Levine), Philadelphia 1987, 127-137

J. G. Younger, AJA 86 (1982), 292

D. Chen, PEQ 119 (1987), 44-49.

Ark of the Law

Goodenough, Jewish Symbols l-2

R. Hachlili, BASOR 223 (1976), 43-54

E. M. Meyers (and C. L. Meyers), ASOR Newsletter (Oct. 1981), 5-7

id. (et al.), BA 44 (1981), 237-243

id. (and C. L. Meyers), BAR 7/6 (1981), 24-39; id., EI 16 (1982), 176*-185*

L. J. Hoppe, The Bible Today 22 (1984), 290-297.