Dor Maritime Archaeology Project 2000, Israel
Tantura Lagoon, one of the
natural harbours of Dor, is littered with ancient wrecks. Dor is
on the Mediterranean coast of Israel between Haifa and Tel Aviv
and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Israel.
Above: Photograph of diver recording upstanding wooden ribs
of the wreck.
Several surveys and excavations
have taken place there over the years, including one by the NAS
in 1985. The wrecks date from the Phoenician period to the
post-medieval period and were identified by Sean Kingsley and
Kurt Raveh of DMAP doing underwater surveys in 1991 and 1992.
Recently Shelley Wachsman of INA
and Yak Kahanov of CMS have been working on a group of Byzantine
wrecks in the northern part of the lagoon.
The NAS will be continuing this
project in September 2000 in conjunction with the Center for
Maritime Studies of the University of Haifa, DMAP and the Israel
Antiquities Authority, to continue the survey and excavation of
the 19th century ship and investigate other sites in the lagoon.
The wreck lies in shallow water no more than 3m deep. The
proposal is to accurately survey and record the hull in situ,
including any artetacts, cargo or ships fitting or ballast. This
would be done over a 2 week period. The project in 2000 ran between
10th and the 28th of September.
The intention is to run this as
an NAS Training Project. There will be opportunities to receive on-site
training and gain NAS qualifications during the course of the
project. No previous archaeological experience or qualifications
are required.
Above right: Photograph of diver using a dredge on
the Dor site.
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