Tiberias - Mt. Berenice

Columns and piers: 

There were 14 columns in the main basilical hall, each comprised from several lathe-made basalt drums (50 cm diameter), standing vertically one upon the other. They were secondary re-used as a low piers, collected from the same drums, but standing side by side and supporting arcades (Abbasid period). The atrium was adorned with 14 piers, built from rectangular basalt blocks.

Columns and piers materials: 
Basalt
Columns: 
Typology
Columns and piers: 
Comprised of drums
Piers built of ashlars
Bases and pedestals: 

The columns, when they were found, were adorned with the bases and capitals, that looked identical. They are comprised from plinth, torus and scotia, cut from the same block of stone together with the drum part and resembling something between Attic and Tuscan order (so-called convex-concave, "kaur-kamur"; usually used in Roman synagogues as capitals). So, probably, all of them could be bases initially in the Early-Byzantine phase.

Typology
Bases: 
Spolia
"kamrur-kaarur" (Tuscan)
Bases and pedestals materials: 
Basalt
Bases: 
Capitals: 

Bases were reused as a capitals during the Abbasid period, but probably there were another items during the Early-Byzantine phase. In the debris of a later phase a basalt Corinthian capital was found. It is blocked-out, with the preliminary chiseled two rows of acanthus, volutes (without helices), abacus with fleuron. By its style its Late Roman. The diameter of the capital is 33 cm, not befitting the column drums. So, doubtlessly, it's a spolia

Capitals materials: 
Basalt
Capitals: 
Typology
Order: 
Lotus capital with two or three rows of petals

lintels, jambs, thresholds

Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 

There are several Early-Byzantine doorways, remodified during the Abbasid-Fatimid and Crusader's periods, but still preserved relatively well, that is unusual for the period. Western entrance from the prayer hall into the northern wing of the church was found blocked, but intact. The lintel stone is carved from the integral block of stone (1.7 m long). But the most interesting feature is a relieving and very delicate arch comprised of seven conically-dressed stone-sections upon the lintel. Probably, the decoration of the other doorways was identical. One another lintel, partially broken (1.3 m long, 0.4 m thick, 0.4 m high; primary -- 1.7 m long), was found near the eastern entranceway. The center of the lintel is decorated with a depressed circle (0.35 m in diameter) with an equilateral cross in flat relief. A lintel decorated with a cross was discovered near the entrance to the north-eastern room from the prayer hall. The lintel is 1.3 m long, 0.45 m wide, 0.3 m high, with a 0.25 m diameter circle and equilateral cross carved in the center of its smoothed surface. Attests to the important function of the northern wing within the church complex. The entrance to the western room of the northern wing during the Abbasid-Fatimid period was blocked and a stone door incorporated into the lower part. The stone door was preserved in situ. It is secondary use and came from one of the nearby burial cave.

Typology
Lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Lintels
Jambs
Thresholds
Central pattern on lintel: 
Medallion
Cross
Materials of lintels, jambs, thresholds: 
Basalt
Lintels and jambs: 
Chancel screen posts: 

Two members of marble chancel posts were found in the church. One fragment was found in front of bema and the other incorporated in secondary use in the facade wall. There are decorated in a traditional manner with rectangular frames, one inside the other. Also small marble Corinthian capitals were found, which adorned the second tier of the chancel posts, flanking the entrance into bema ro belonged to ciborium)

Typology
Types: 
two-storied (with a colonnette)
Decorations: 
Grooved and molded frames
Chancel Screen posts materials: 
Marble
Chancel Screen posts: 
Chancel screen plates: 

The plates were carved from greyish marble and had traditional for Proconnesian workshops decoration. The embracing frames were composed from margins and two concentric frames. The ten decorated chancel screen slabs beard a number of iconographic motifs. Central patterns were embraced by: plastic laurel wreath; or schematic laurel wreath in a herringbone pattern; or medallion (clipaeus) in the shape of a rounded ribbon. Two main patterns inside the wreaths: an interlacing pattern composed of interlacing bands, each divided into three parallel strips; a conch pattern, which has two variants - one composed of elongated lobes, the other in a shape of spinning wheel. The rear sides of the chancel screens were decorated with crosses.

Typology
Types: 
Blind
Decoration (Central motif): 
Laurel wreath
Greek/Latin cross within laurel wreath
Conch
Guilloche
Decoration (Lateral patterns): 
Crosses
Tendrils
floral
Chancel Screen plates materials: 
Marble
Chancel Screen plates: 
Altar legs: 

Three marble fragments of table legs were found: a base, a central part of a trunk with a ribbon design and the capital (with a schematic lotus design and square abacus) that adorned the upper part of a table leg. All are too thin to hold an ambo, though they could be also suitable for the ciborium. Some of the fragments could belong to the main altar table, others -- to the auxiliary.

Typology
Altar legs: 
Shaft
Capital
Base
Altar legs Materials: 
Marble
Altar legs: 
Altar plates: 
Eleven members of rectangular tables and one of a round altar plate were found. Rectangular tables are carved from marble, red one is of red porphyry. All the altar tables are decorated with simple plain or rounded moldings. In excavating beneath the altar place a large basalt stone was found in situ. The stone is 1.1 m long, 0.35 m thick, and has a maximum height of 0.55 m. A round, biconical hole (with a diameter of 15-20 cm) is carved through the center of the stone. The stone is well smoothed on all sides, except the bottom, facing south, which is roughly carved in a wedge shape. The stone weight is almost half a ton. In the Abbasid-Fatimid period above the location of this "anchor stone" the wall of the altar table was exposed. This ashlar wall is 1.7 m long, 0.3 m wide, and protrudes 0.15 m above the floor. It was probably part of the altar table that was erected over the "anchor stone" and that originally had four low walls topped by an altar plate. The only Crusader's additions to the church are related to this "anchor stone". On top of it two well-dressed stones, one made of marble and the other of smoothed limestone (0.6 m long, 0.4 m wide, 0.1 m thick), were laid. Marble member (6 cm thick, 0.7 m wide) is an Early Byzantine spolia, with a round opening in the center (0.22 m in diameter). Sanctity of the stone originates in the New Testament traditions concerning activities of Jesus among the villagers on the shores of Sea of Galilee
Typology
Type: 
Round (orbis)
Rectangular (angulus)
Decoration: 
with molded edges
Altar plates (mensae) materials: 
Limestone
Marble
Other
Altar plates (mensae): 
Ciborium: 

see "chancel screen posts" section

Typology
Ciborium : 
Capital
Revetment plates: 

In the later phases the nave floor was made of whitish plaster, but the imprints of the initial Early-Byzantine opus sectile marble tiles were uncovered in two probes opened beneath the floor in the center of the hall. The tile impressions are square (17x17 cm) arranged diagonally to the church walls. Nothing remained from tiles themselves. It is clear from the probes, that all the nave floor was paved with marble tiles.

Typology
Revetment: 
Opus sectile
Revetment plates materials: 
Marble
Revetment plates: 
Basins: 

Four marble concave fragments were found in the church. They belonged to the flat and deep bowls.

Typology
Basins: 
Coarsely carved undecorated
Basins materials: 
Marble
Basins: 
Liturgical objects materials: 
Marble
Liturgical objects: 
A fragment of marble reliquary was found in the atrium. One square compartment of the box was preserved, on which there are drill incisions. Another compartment is preserved partially. Anchor stone was venerated in the church (located under the floor of bema).
Typology
Reliquaries: 
Box
Liturgical objects: 
Other: 

There are several marble pieces that were not identified.

Typology
Other: 
Unidentified member
Other materials: 
Marble
Other: