Abstract
We report the results of underwater archaeological investigations at the submerged Neolithic settlement of Tel Hreiz (7500 – 7000 BP), off the Carmel coast of Israel. The underwater archaeological site has yielded well-preserved architectural, artefactual, faunal and human remains. We examine and discuss the notable recent discovery of a linear, boulder-built feature >100m long, located seaward of the settlement. Based on archaeological context, mode of construction and radiometric dating, we demonstrate the feature was contemporary with the inundated Neolithic settlement and conclude that it served as a seawall, built to protect the village against Mediterranean Sea-level rise. The seawall is unique for the period and is the oldest known coastal defence worldwide. Its length, use of large non-local boulders and specific arrangement in the landscape reflect the extensive effort invested by the Neolithic villagers in its conception, organisation and construction. However, this distinct social action and display of resilience proved a temporary solution and ultimately the village was inundated and abandoned.
Highlights
Coastal environments and their natural resources have attracted human settlement worldwide from as early as ca. 160 ka [1,2,3,4]
Underwater survey and salvage excavations have yielded a broad range of archaeological material from the Tel Hreiz settlement over an area of some 11,000m2 and at depths between 0 and -4m mean sea level (MSL) (Figs 2 and 3)
Material culture finds recovered from Tel Hreiz comprise numerous flint artefacts (Fig 3D), typical Wadi Rabah pottery (S2 Fig), cupmarks and a range of ground stone artefacts made of limestone, sandstone and basalt (Fig 3E and 3F)
Summary
Coastal environments and their natural resources have attracted human settlement worldwide from as early as ca. 160 ka [1,2,3,4]. Coastal environments and their natural resources have attracted human settlement worldwide from as early as ca. 160 ka [1,2,3,4] Settlement in such environments brings benefits, including access to diverse, temporally and spatially predictable marine and terrestrial resources, and hazards since these zones are subject to seasonal changes and unexpected, sometimes catastrophic events, including storms, hurricanes, tsunamis, as well as sea-level rise [5]. Settlements immediately adjacent to the sea are most vulnerable and may require rapid as well as sustained human response, such as modification of the natural environment or settlement abandonment. Past global fluctuations in mean sea level (MSL) are attested by discoveries of submerged ancient settlements worldwide [6,7,8,9].
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