Gamala Residential Quarter

Gamala was a late Hellenistic and early Roman Jewish town located in the Golan and famous for its strong defense against the Roman siege during the Great Revolt in 67 CE (see “Battle at Gamala”). Hundreds of arrowheads and ballista stones, together with a large number of other military objects, have been discovered at the site, with a high concentration of items close to its fortified walls. Extensive excavations have revealed residential units, including an elite quarter comprising houses with frescoes and luxury goods, an industrial quarter dedicated to olive-oil production, a number of mikvaot, paved streets, city walls, and a synagogue. The housing structures at Gamala are built of locally quarried basalt. The size, layout, and interiors of houses were contingent on the size and structure of the household, the personal preferences and wealth of the inhabitants, and other local factors. Some of the houses had niches, used as cupboards, or a row of protruding stones about 6 feet (2 m) high, used as a base for a second, wooden floor. The town’s synagogue is visible behind the eastern quarter.