Excavations at the Submerged Neolithic site of Atlit Yam, off the Carmel Coast of Israel

Underwater archaeology in Israel began in 1960 and, already then, traces of submerged settlements were discovered. The first research took place in 1969, when the Neve-Yam site was exposed by a winter storm. Subsequently, during the early 1980s, a research project aimed at locating, excavating, salvage and research of submerged prehistoric settlements was established by E. Galili. Six decades of research has revealed 17 submerged prehistoric sites, containing substantial and well-preserved finds that enlighten the culture and subsistence of the prehistoric coastal populations of the region. Among them are thirteen Neolithic sites, belonging to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic C period, represented at the site of Atlit-Yam (dated to 9250–8000 BP), and twelve Pottery Neolithic sites dated to between 8000 and 6500 cal. BP. Most of the PN sites (Kfar-Samir; Hishuley Carmel; Kfar-Galim; Nahal Galim; Hahoterim; Tel-Hreiz; Megadim; Atlit north bay; Neve-Yam and Habonim) are attributed to the Wadi Rabah culture, considered as late Pottery Neolithic or early Chalcolithic, while the Neve-Yam North site belong to the Lodian culture, which predates the Wadi Rabah culture.The Pottery Neolithic sites are located close to the present shore (1–200 m offshore) at depths of 0–5 m, while the older Atlit-Yam site is located further offshore (200–400 m) and in deeper water (8–12 m below sea level).

The publication project is directed by Dr. Ehud Galili and Dr. Liora Horwitz.

Atlit Yam 1
Fig. 1: (Left) Atlit-Yam location map; (Right) Site lay-out showing main architectural features
 

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Links to web sites:

Splashcos-Viewer on the web: Map of submerges settlements in the Mediterranean

(http://splashcos.maris2.nl/).

The Movie " The mystery of Atlit-Yam": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR60lvVFLpI&t=467s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR60lvVFLpI&t=467s

Recently published articles available in:

https://haifa.academia.edu/EhudGalili

https://www.academia.edu/36568727/submerged_settlements_off_the_Israeli_coast

https://www.academia.edu/38519563/THE_ISRAELI_MODEL_FOR_THE_DETECTION_EXCAVATION_AND_RESEARCH_OF_SUBMERGED_PREHISTORY

https://www.academia.edu/38519691/Physical_Characteristics_of_the_Continental_Shelves_of_the_East_Mediterranean_Basin_Submerged_Settlements_and_Landscapes_-_Actual_Finds_and_Potential_Discoveries

https://www.academia.edu/36409922/Threats_to_submerged_prehistoric_cultural_heritage

https://www.academia.edu/18589474/Evidence_for_Earliest_Olive-Oil_Production_in_Submerged_Settlements_off_the_Carmel_Coast_Israel

https://www.academia.edu/34197755/Late_Quaternary_sea-level_changes_and_early_human_societies_in_the_central_and_eastern_Mediterranean_Basin_An_interdisciplinary_review

https://www.academia.edu/34982336/Beach_deposits_containing_Middle_Paleolithic_archaeological_remains_from_northern_Israel_Quaternary_International._2017_

https://www.academia.edu/32877350/Figurative_Representations_from_Neveh_Yam_and_Other_Sites_in_Israel_Markers_of_the_Late_Neolithic_Early_Chalcolithic_South_Levant_Cultures_

https://www.academia.edu/30688757/Submerged_prehisrtoric_setlements_off_the_Mediterranean_coast_of_Israel_-2013-Skyllis-13-Heft-2-Galili.pdf

https://www.academia.edu/30688062/Neve_Yam_Temanun_Island

https://www.academia.edu/30687738/Late_Quaternary_beach_deposits_and_archaeological_relicts_on_the_coasts_of_Cyprus_and_the_possible_implications_of_sea-level_changes_and_tectonics_on_the_early_populations