The Zinman Institute of Archaeology, and The Leon Recanati Institute for Maritime studies
University of Haifa, Israel
Short Bio
Ehud Galili (Ph.D.) is a Marine Archaeologist, a Research Fellow and a lecturer at the University of Haifa. He directed the project of the submerged Neolithic settlements off the Carmel coast (1984-2019) and the underwater archaeological surveys off the Israeli coast since 1965. His activity focuses on the study of man and sea relations and the rescue of the cultural heritage.
Galili established the marine unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority and directed it during1990-2004. As a member in the National Committee for the Protection of the coastal Environment (2004-2019) he produced policy documents and risk assessment surveys, aimed at managing and protecting the underwater and coastal cultural heritage. Research interests include: submerged prehistoric settlements, sea level changes, ancient seafaring, shipwrecks, fishing instruments, salt industry and preservation of the underwater cultural heritage.
Abstract- Fishing and marine exploitation in the ancient Levant, finds from underwater and coastal research
Coastal and underwater research along the Israeli coast revealed finds associated with fishing and auxiliary artifacts dating from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period onwards. Finds from submerged prehistoric fishing villages represent the emergence of the Mediterranean fishing village which subsisted on the exploitation of marine and terrestrial resources simultaneously. Finds from these agro - pastoral - marine villages included perforated stones used as net sinkers, fishing hooks and gorges made of bone. Flint arrowheads found there could have been used in fishing while the flint daggers found, could have been used for fishing by free diving and for fish processing. Evidences from historical periods include Netting tools and fishing hooks made of metal, discovered in shipwrecks and coastal sites. Nets, made of organic materials, were not preserved. However, the find of stone and metal Fishing gear sinkers of different types, and moulds for casting lead sinkers, indicate the use of different kinds of nets. A set of artefacts used for fishing by light was recovered in Dor "lagoon". These included a unique iron Fire basket intended for setting fire on the prow of a fishing vessel. Several red coral harvesting devices were found in shipwrecks, though there are no such corals along the Levant coast, suggesting contacts with the central Mediterranean. Rope working Tools ("spikes"), integral parts of fishermen gear, were recovered, as well as remotely operated instruments, such as sounding-weights for measuring water depths and sampling sea bottoms, and Grapnels and salvage rings for retrieving entangled and lost fishing gear. Finds associated with aquaculture include rock-cut pools used for keeping Murex snails intended for purple die production, and for keeping live fish.