Page 36 - TINA Dergi Sayi 10

TINA

Denizcilik Arkeolojisi Dergisi

Initially, most finds were random and recovered was established by the senior author. Five decades
incidentally by fishermen and amateur divers or in of activity has revealed 17 submerged prehistoric
the course of development and construction of ma- sites off the Mediterranean coast of Israel , many
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rine projects, as well as gravel mining. They consist of them contained substantial and well-preserved
of scattered artifacts, unconnected to a specific con- finds that elucidate the culture and subsistence of
text. Since the mid-20 century, targeted research the past coastal populations of the region. Among
th
has resulted in the discovery of in situ deposits and them are one Middle Palaeolithic site, one Epi-Pa-
features of submerged sites in several countries (e.g. laeolithic site, thirteen Neolithic sites and two sites
Israel, Denmark, Greece). These finds demonstrate of uncertain age (possibly dating to the Late Pleisto-
the potential of submerged prehistoric research, cene-Early Holocene). The Neolithic sites belong to
and its ability to shed light on prehistoric coastal two main cultural phases: The Pre-Pottery Neolithic
cultures . The current challenge of the discipline of C (PPNC) represented at the site of Atlit-Yam, dated
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submerged prehistoric archaeology is to establish a to 9250–8000 calibrated (cal.) before present (BP),
methodology that will enable appropriate explora- and twelve Pottery Neolithic (PN) sites dated to
tion, excavation, survey and documentation of sites between 8000 and 6500 cal. BP. The PN sites, listed
and guarantee a significant and enduring contribu- from north to south, are: Kfar-Samir (north, center
tion to general world prehistory. and south); Hishuley Carmel; Kfar-Galim (north and
bACKGrOunD tO SubmerGeD PreHIStOrY In ISrAeL south); Nahal Galim; Hahoterim; Tel-Hreiz (north
In Israel, underwater archaeology began in 1960 and south); Megadim; Atlit north bay; Neve-Yam
and was primarily devoted to the study of harbors (north, south and Temanun Island) and Habonim.
and shipwrecks . Already then, scanty traces of sub- Eleven of the PN sites are attributed to the Wadi
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merged prehistory were discovered in the Mediter- Rabah culture, considered as late PN or early Chal-
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ranean and the Sea of Galilee (Figs. 1, 2). The first colithic , while the Neve-Yam North site includes
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substantial research of an inundated prehistoric site pottery typical of the Lodian culture, which predates
began in 1969, when the partly submerged settle- the Wadi Rabah culture . The Pottery Neolithic sites
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ment of Neve-Yam was exposed by a winter storm . are located close to the present shore (1–200 m off-
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Subsequently, during the early 1980s, a research pro- shore) at depths of 0–5 m, while the older Atlit-Yam
gram aimed at surveying, excavating, salvage work site is located further offshore (200–400 m) and in
and research of submerged prehistoric settlements deeper water (8–12 m below sea level, hence bsl).

6 e.g. GUSICK-FAUGHT 2010; BENJAMIN et al. 2011; EVANS et al. 2014; STURT et al. 2018; WICKHAM-JONES 2018 passim.
7 FRITSCH-BEN-DOR 1961; LINDER-RABAN 1965.
8 RONEN 1965.
9 WRESCHNER 1977a.
10 GALILI-WEINSTEIN-EVRON 1985; GALILI et al. 2015a; GALILI et al. in press.
11 GOPHER-GOPHNA 1993; GOPHER 2012.
12 GARFINKEL 1999.
13 GALILI 2004; GALILI et al. 2017c.

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