The Byzantine‐Period Dor 2006 Shipwreck, Israel: preliminary hull construction report

Abstract

The Dor 2006 shipwreck was discovered in 2006, 100-m offshore, 800-m south of Dor (Tantura) lagoon. The wooden hull remains included sections of large frames, stringers and ceiling planks, a large number of strakes and wales, some with unpegged mortise‐and‐tenon joints. Among the finds were ceramic sherds, wooden objects, matting, ropes, food remains, and coins. The shipwreck was dated to between the second half of the 6th and the first quarter of the 7th centuries AD. The wooden components of the hull indicate a large ship compared with other shipwrecks of the period, and the largest ever excavated in the Dor area.

Key words:

• Dor 2006 shipwreck
• Byzantine
• unpegged mortise‐and‐tenon joints

Acknowledgments

This research was supported (in part) by the Israel Science Foundation, a Sir Maurice Hatter Fellowship for Maritime Studies, the Hecht Trust, and anonymous donors, to whom the authors are grateful. The authors are also grateful to Dr Eric Rieth and Dr Marie‐Pierre Jézégou for their valuable comments and advice. Thanks are due to John Tresman for the English editing; and to the excavation team of the Dor 2006 shipwreck.

Additional information

Funding

Israel Science Foundation