Usha in the Galilee

ARCHAEOLOGY: Explore the nearly 2,000-year-old Jewish metropolis of Usha in the western Galilee. Remains of the city founded by rabbis fleeing Roman persecution in Judea were recently uncovered, revealing roads, stunning mosaic floors, ritual baths and oil and wine presses (AVIVA AND SHMUEL BAR-AM, Times of Israel).

Two decades ago, while preparing an article on the scenic Kiryat Ata forest, we came across the Usha ruins, just east of Haifa. Aside from rocks and weeds, there was little to see. That’s why an invitation to view excavations at the site just last week was particularly exciting. This time we walked on an ancient street and explored mosaic floors, ritual baths, and presses for the production of oil and wine.

We were guided through the site by three archeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA): Saar Ganor, national director of educational and tourism projects; Dr. Einat Ambar-Armon, director of the Northern Region Educational Center, and Hanaa Abu-‘Uqsa, director of excavations at Usha.

A nice Travel piece on the site of Usha and the Sanhedrin Trail.

For more on the Usha excavation, see here and here. For more on the Sanhedrin Trail, see here and links. For that gold coin of Theodosius II, see here. For the Arbel amulet, see here and here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.