Katzrin National Park

Historical Background

Katzrin National Park is the site of a Jewish-Byzantine settlement dating from the 2nd to the 7th centuries CE. The site includes remains of residential buildings, various installations, and public structures. In the 1970s, a large-scale reconstruction project transformed the site into a center for tourism and heritage. Today, it functions as a living museum showcasing life in the Byzantine period.

Condition Prior to Conservation

Before the current conservation project, visitors encountered stone walls two to three meters high with no clear spatial context or accessibility. Although the archaeological remains were significant, they were not accessible to the public, and it was difficult to grasp the full scope of the site. Additionally, reconstructions carried out in the 1980s had not been maintained for nearly four decades, leading to their deterioration.

Project Goals

Restoration and maintenance of the historical reconstructions from the 1980s.
Construction of new spaces within the reconstructed archaeological zone.
Creation of an active and accessible visitor environment.
Integration of new elements such as pergolas, service buildings, and a shallow pool.
Stabilization of existing elements in the ancient structures, including the synagogue.

Engineering Challenges

Integration of materials from different periods
The project required combining ancient excavation materials, 1980s reconstruction materials, and modern construction materials.

Building foundations over archaeological remains Advanced engineering solutions were needed to support new structures without compromising ancient remains.

Maintaining future excavation potential
One of the guiding principles of conservation of ancient structures is the reversibility principle—preserving the site in such a way that it can be further studied in the future. This project required an engineering design that would allow for easy dismantling of additions to enable continued archaeological research.

Engineering Solutions

Development of a hybrid construction method
Modern building technologies were used alongside ancient materials, ensuring a clear separation between historical and contemporary layers.

Protective overlay
Protective overlay systems were installed above the archaeological remains to prevent damage.

Modular planning
Following the reversibility principle, all new additions were designed using modular planning concepts to be easily dismantled in the future.

In Partnership With:

Client: Government Tourism Company and Golan Antiquities Museum
Conservators: Eitan Hershkowitz and Eitan Sela
Architect: Avi Or
Phase B Contractor: Boaz Cohen
Conservation Engineering: Schaffer Ronen Engineers – Yaacov Schaffer, Moti Shamis, Yehonatan Oz