Archaeological dig site in Galilee uncovering a mosaic floor.

Unearthing the Past: How New Archaeological Discoveries Are Rewriting First-Century Galilee

Nico Varela in Culture & Society June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Dive into the groundbreaking finds that are transforming our understanding of Galilee during the time of Jesus, from hidden synagogues to the real location of Bethsaida."

For decades, scholars have been piecing together the story of first-century Galilee, weaving together historical research and archaeological findings. Now, new discoveries are adding fresh threads to this intricate tapestry, offering a more nuanced and vibrant picture of life during the time of Jesus. This article explores recent archaeological breakthroughs that are reshaping our understanding of this pivotal period.

Mordechai Aviam, a leading archaeologist, has been at the forefront of these discoveries, conducting excavations in the Galilee region that have yielded remarkable insights. These findings, dating from 2016 to 2017, are so significant that they warrant immediate attention from scholars and anyone fascinated by biblical history.

Aviam's work focuses on two key sites: El-Araj, a contender for the location of Bethsaida/Julias, and Tel Rekhesh, which may hold the key to understanding rural synagogues in the first century. Each site offers unique contributions to our understanding of Galilean life during this transformative era.

El-Araj: Unmasking the True Location of Bethsaida/Julias?

Archaeological dig site in Galilee uncovering a mosaic floor.

For years, the archaeological site of El-Araj has been a leading candidate for the first-century village of Bethsaida, mentioned in the Gospels and by the historian Josephus. Its location on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and the presence of ancient stones and architectural fragments have fueled this theory. However, the exact location has remained a subject of debate.

Previous excavations at a nearby site, et-Tel, led some archaeologists to identify it as Bethsaida/Julias. But recent surveys conducted at El-Araj have unearthed early Roman pottery, prompting a fresh wave of investigation. These new excavations, carried out in 2016 and 2017, have revealed a fascinating sequence of layers:

The Crusader Period: The uppermost layer contains remnants of a building used for sugar production, dating back to the twelfth century CE. The discovery of a lead token and the specific type of clay used in the vessels confirm this activity.
The Byzantine Period: Walls from this era were integrated into the later Crusader structure. The partially uncovered Byzantine building, oriented west to east, featured pottery, coins from the late sixth and early seventh centuries CE, and colorful mosaic tesserae, including some made of gilded glass. Fragments of marble tables and roof tiles suggest this was an important religious building.
The Roman Period: Beneath the Byzantine layer, excavators discovered a substantial wall, chunks of white mosaic flooring (some with black stripes), and broken fired clay bricks known as tubuli, typically used in Roman-style bathhouses. Pottery from this layer dates from the late first century BCE to the third century CE. The discovery of a bronze city coin from the second century CE and a silver denarius from the reign of Emperor Nero further solidifies this dating.

These discoveries at El-Araj provide compelling evidence of an early Roman-period settlement. The presence of a Roman-type bathhouse, though limited in scope, is particularly significant, as such structures were rare in rural sites during the first century CE. This strengthens the case for identifying El-Araj as Bethsaida, a village that was elevated to the status of a polis (city) by Herod Philip, as documented by Flavius Josephus.

The Broader Significance: Rewriting the Narrative of First-Century Galilee

The archaeological discoveries at El-Araj and Tel Rekhesh offer a tantalizing glimpse into the vibrant and complex world of first-century Galilee. They challenge existing assumptions, provide new insights into Jewish life and religious practices, and invite us to reimagine the landscape in which Jesus lived and ministered. As research continues, these sites promise to yield even more treasures, further enriching our understanding of this pivotal period in history.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1628/ec-2018-0014, Alternate LINK

Title: First-Century Galilee – New Discoveries

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Early Christianity

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Authors: Mordechai Aviam

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What specific archaeological discoveries have been made at El-Araj, and what is their significance?

At El-Araj, significant discoveries include remnants from the Crusader, Byzantine, and Roman periods. The Crusader layer revealed a building used for sugar production. The Byzantine layer unearthed walls, pottery, coins, mosaic tesserae, and marble fragments, suggesting a religious building. Crucially, the Roman layer revealed a substantial wall, mosaic flooring, and a Roman-style bathhouse. These findings, particularly the bathhouse and pottery dating back to the first century CE, strongly suggest El-Araj as the location of Bethsaida/Julias, a village elevated to a polis by Herod Philip, as documented by Josephus. The mosaic with black stripes adds an extra layer of information.

How do the findings at El-Araj challenge the previous understanding of Bethsaida's location?

Prior to the excavations at El-Araj, et-Tel was considered by some archaeologists as the potential location of Bethsaida/Julias. However, the discoveries at El-Araj, especially the early Roman pottery and a Roman-style bathhouse, present a more compelling case. The dating of artifacts at El-Araj aligns with the timeframe when Bethsaida was an important settlement, thus challenging the previous identification and redirecting focus to El-Araj as the more likely site.

Who is Mordechai Aviam, and what role did he play in the new archaeological discoveries?

Mordechai Aviam is a leading archaeologist who has been at the forefront of recent archaeological discoveries in the Galilee region. He conducted significant excavations at El-Araj and Tel Rekhesh between 2016 and 2017. These excavations yielded crucial insights into the first-century Galilee, including potential evidence for Bethsaida/Julias at El-Araj and an understanding of rural synagogues at Tel Rekhesh. His work is instrumental in reshaping our understanding of this pivotal period.

What kind of artifacts have been found at El-Araj, and what do they tell us about the different periods of settlement?

At El-Araj, a diverse range of artifacts was discovered, offering a glimpse into the history of settlement through several periods. From the Crusader period, a lead token and evidence of sugar production were found. The Byzantine era provided pottery, coins, colorful mosaic tesserae, fragments of marble tables, and roof tiles, indicating a significant religious building. The Roman layer yielded a substantial wall, chunks of mosaic flooring (with black stripes), broken fired clay bricks (tubuli) associated with a Roman bathhouse, a bronze city coin, and a silver denarius dating to the second century CE. These artifacts, dating from the late first century BCE to the third century CE, illustrate the evolution of the settlement and its connections to wider historical and cultural influences.

Beyond El-Araj, what other site mentioned in the text is key to understanding first-century Galilee, and what kind of insights might it offer?

Tel Rekhesh is another key site, and the findings there are crucial for understanding first-century Galilee. It potentially holds the key to understanding rural synagogues of the first century. The archaeological findings at Tel Rekhesh, in conjunction with the discoveries at El-Araj, promise to offer a more nuanced understanding of Jewish life, religious practices, and the social environment in which Jesus lived and ministered. While the text does not provide specific details of the Tel Rekhesh findings, it suggests that further research at this site could greatly enrich our understanding of this historical period.