At the same site as the Franciscan church we saw in the last post, we also have one of the more remarkable ongoing digs in all of Israel, at Migdal. What we have is a giant garum factory, making the much popular fish pickle sauce out of small fish. So we have brine vats etc. But what we also have is two synagogues at Migdal, and we will be concentrating on the one where the remarkable small altar was found.
As Richard Bauckham has demonstrated at length, these are symbols from the temple in Jerusalem, including the menorah, the lamps, the columns, the pouring jars and more. This next picture gives you a sense of just how small this altar is….
The original is now in the hands of the IAA in Jerusalem, so we are looking at an exact replica. It is clear enough from some of the wavy lines in the mosaics that this area suffered from earthquakes at various points in time.
You can see as well that the place that housed this remarkable altar was once colorful.
Outside this synagogue or civic building there were mikvehs…
Also water channels for the fish tanks and water and grain vessels….
Yet another wavy mosaic further into the site. 
There is still much digging to do at this site, but already it has become one of the most important near the sea of Galilee.
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