Atlit-Yam: A Prehistoric Site on the Sea Floor off the Israeli Coast

Ehud Galili, Mina Weinstein-Evron, Israel Hershkovitz, Abraham Gopher, Mordecai Kislev, Omri Lernau, Liora Kolska-Horwitz, Hanan Lernau

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Atlit-Yam, a settlement 400 m off the Israeli shore, is the largest (60,000 sq m) and most deeply submerged (8-12 m bsl) prehistoric settlement ever uncovered along the Mediterranean coast. The architecture of the dwellings, the lithic tool assemblages, and radiocarbon dating indicate habitation during the late Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) period, ca. 81007500 b.p. Floral and faunal remains suggest that the village economy was complex, based on several different food resources acquired through hunting, incipient herding, fishing, and farming. These probably permitted year-round occupation. More importantly, however, Atlit-Yam is among the earliest communities to reveal evidence of maritime activity. From this site, new insights into maritime pursuits and the domestication of animals and plants, as well as early evidence for exploitation of water tables, the construction of wells in prehistoric times, and sea level changes will be forthcoming. Further study of Atlit-Yam may also contribute to our understanding of the process of colonization of the Mediterranean islands.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)133-157
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Field Archaeology
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1993

Funding

FundersFunder number
CARE Archaeological Foundation
Center for Maritime Studies
Council of Research and Development
Israel Antiquities Authority
Joan and Dick Scheuer
National Geographic Research Foundation
Stekelis Prehistoric Museum of Haifa
University of Pittsburgh Radiocarbon Laboratory
Weizmann Institute
Zinman Institute of Archaeology of Haifa University
Leakey Foundation
Tel Aviv University

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