shipwreck

By Ainsley Brown - ATI

Divers at Tantura Lagoon have uncovered three shipwrecks, the oldest of which dates back 3,000 years — and they were filled with containers like bowls, jars, and amphorae as well as food like grapes and dates.

Archaeologists have discovered three Iron Age shipwrecks off the coast of Israel, and their cargo has reshaped experts’ understanding of ancient trade across the Mediterranean. The wrecks were found in Tantura Lagoon, also known as Dor Lagoon, near the ancient harbor city of Dor.

This is the first discovery of sunken cargo within a former port city in Israel and it provides deeper insight into Iron Age trade than pre-existing land-based evidence.

A new paper published in the journal Antiquity describes how the project, carried out by the University of California San Diego in conjunction with the University of Haifa, used both traditional methods of research alongside newer techniques. Archaeologists used 3D modeling, multispectral imaging, and digital mapping to examine the wrecks and surrounding waters throughout 2023 and 2024.

In all, the team was able to explore three shipwrecks laden with vast amounts of cargo at a sandbar near Dor.

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