Report on Underwater Excavation at the Phoenician Harbour, Atlit, Israel

Abstract

Atlit is a small Phoenician settlement on the Carmel coast, with an artificial harbour, built during Iron Age II, before the Assyrian occupation, and used until the end of the Persian era. There are no remains of any later construction, in contrast to other Phoenician ports such as Sidon and Tyre. The study of Atlit harbour has therefore provided invaluable information on the positioning, planning and construction of Phoenician harbours in the Levant. This article is a summary of the most recent underwater excavation seasons at the harbour, and presents our conclusions on construction techniques and their historical implications.

© 2009 The Author

Key words:

• Iron Age II
• Phoenician harbour
• Israel coast
• Atlit
• C14
• pier‐and‐rubble

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Prof. Michal Artzy, co‐director of the Atlit excavation, for her invaluable help and dedication to the project. Acknowledgements and thanks to Steve Breitstein, now retired, who has worked with us throughout, and without whom the project would not have been such a success.