Magdalen was found by accident when a hotel was built here in 2009 and the archeologists discovered the remains of a wall from a 1st century synagogue under a 30 cm deep layer of earth.
The synagogue was probably also used at the time of Jesus where he could have taught.
According to Dina Avschalom-Gorni, the excavation director, it is the oldest known synagogue from the time of the Second Temple. The synagogue is one of the seven 1st century synagogues found so far (2018) in Israel.
The New Testament Magdala is known as the home of Maria Magdalena (Mary of Magdala), an early follower of Jesus. Magdala is mentioned 11 times in the Bible and only in the four Gospels in connection with Mary Magdalene. The Gospel of Matthew also reports that after the miracle of feeding the 4000, Jesus got on the boat and went to the Magadan area