Fortifying Akko’s Seawall

June 4, 2009

Remains of a unique and impressive floor were discovered at a depth of one meter
(3 feet). The remains constitute the first evidence of a low sea level in Akko during the Hellenistic period (end of the third century until the middle of the second century BC). So far, the uncovered floor measures 15 x 4 meters (49 x 13 feet). The floor was built of rectangular, smoothly dressed kurkar stones that were placed atop a foundation course of roughly hewn kurkar stones arranged next to each other as “headers.” (Kurkar is found only on Israel’s seacoast, nowhere else in the world. The sandstone ridges, three underwater and two on land, are fossilized sea sand dunes!)

In underwater probes, numerous fragments of ceramic jars of Aegean provenance were found, as well as tableware, cooking vessels, a Greek style bronze arrowhead, and bronze coins. A preliminary identification shows that the floor was constructed as part of a national project and possibly belonged to a large pier or dockyard structure. It is an important indicator for studies that deal with changes in sea level and in the location of the shoreline during the Hellenistic period in Akko. This find raises other questions regarding the tectonic changes that occurred in Akko, which is located on a geologic fault.

Photo Credit: Photo by IAA