Katzrin House

This two-story late Roman and/or early Byzantine house in the village of Katzrin, to the northeast of the Sea of Galilee, is constructed of hewn basalt stones, as are almost all buildings in the Golan. Mortar was used to bind the stones together. Larger hewn stones at the corners of the walls provided better support for the construction on top. A staircase at the back of the house led to the second floor, and the small window openings allowed light to come inside without letting in too much heat. The kitchen included an oven, ceramic vessels, and other household goods. The adjacent room was used as a storage area; a “window wall” separated it from the main room. Another door led to a central living room used for dining, receiving guests, performing household chores, sleeping, and storage. The courtyard of the house (now filled with gravel for modern tourists) included an outdoor kitchen, two ovens, and a small paved area for dining. In the upper area of the image of the site are the remains of the local synagogue, which was constructed at the beginning of the sixth century CE (see Katzrin, in synagogues).