The ruins of the town of Chorazin, dated to the Roman period (beginning in the first century BCE) to the end of the Byzantine Era (seventh century CE), are scattered over a basalt plateau just north of the Ginnosar Valley. Only a few buildings have been excavated, but the outline of the town is readily visible from the air, clearly revealing its irregular, unplanned growth as the population increased.
The synagogue in the heart of the town was built, like the rest of the houses, of black basalt stones. Despite the natural roughness of basalt, it could readily be carved, and the building indeed abounds in carved decorations. A broad staircase ascends to the façade which, as usual in this part of the country, faced south, toward Jerusalem, and had three large entrances. The interior of the synagogue was divided into a nave and aisles by three rows of columns forming a "U" shape. The worshipers sat on benches along the walls. The Ark of the Law was placed inside the southern wall, to the right of the central entrance. To the left of that entrance stood either the bema on which the Law was read or the special seat known as the "Cathedra of Moses," which was actually found among the ruins.
The remains of an olive-press and a ritual bath add some information about the daily life of the people who lived here.