Abstract
A 13th‐century‐BC shipwreck site, Hishuley Carmel, is described and discussed. It provides direct evidence for marine transport of copper and tin along the Israeli coast and may indicate inland and maritime trade‐routes of metals in the Mediterranean. The shipwreck represents a supply‐system providing the demand for bronze in the Levant. Trace‐elements and lead‐isotope analysis suggest that the copper came from Cyprus, similarly to bun and oxhide ingots from Uluburun. The source of the tin cannot yet be ascertained. The medium‐size ship was probably grounded and wrecked during a storm. Some of the cargo may have been salvaged in Antiquity.
© 2012 The Authors
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Haifa. We thank J. Galili, R. Maddin, Z. A. Stos‐Gale, J. Muli, N. Yahalom‐Mack, I. Segal, S. Sariel, M. Artzi, N. Shmueli, D. Moskovitz, Ch. Sali, A. Ya'kobovitz, J. Sharvit, Y. Shatz, B. Galili and Z. Friedman for their help and participation in the surveys, excavations and research.