Each year, millions visit Israel for the history, the culture, and the amazing onshore sites that beckon seekers from many of the world’s top religions. When you think of diving, Israel might not be the first destination that comes to mind, but one site in particular has historians and divers alike mesmerized. Atlit-Yam, a coastal area located near Haifa, has beckoned since it was first discovered lying beneath just ten meters of water in 1984. Today, scientists are using findings from Atlit-Yam to challenge some commonly held beliefs; whether you are interested in learning more about our ancestors or if you’re simply intrigued by the opportunity to dive some truly magnificent underwater ruins, come to Atlit for the adventure of a lifetime.
What is Atlit-Yam?
Atlit-Yam is the sunken remains of a civilization thought to date back to 6900 BCE, and which is thought to have been submerged for about 8,000 years. Incredibly, these ruins have yielded such artifacts as fishing hooks, bone and stone tools, and the remains of both wild and domesticated animals, along with the remains of at least 65 people, all buried in tombs beneath houses, with dignity and in an orderly fashion that suggests that the inhabitants were much more sophisticated than pre-pottery Neolithic people were originally thought to be. In addition, the site has yielded seeds: not only grains like wheat and barley that show that farming was part of daily life, but those of lentils, grapes, and flax, that testify further to the level of civilization and prosperity people in the area enjoyed thousands of years ago.
Covering an area of about 40,000 square meters, the area is huge. A total of twelve structures, with paved plazas and courtyards between them, have been excavated so far. Between the houses, stone lined pits two to three diameters around served as storage silos for food. Along the edge of the village, a long wall made of bricks runs the length of an ancient Wadi – a dry river bed which would have flooded during the rainy season. In addition, a 5.5 meter deep well, its upper portion carefully lined with stones, has been discovered carved into the sandstone. This is the earliest example of such a well, which was likely dug with the aid of axes and stone hammers.
In addition, the ruins of seven vertical monoliths, arranged in a semicircle with an opening facing the northwest, along with horizontal stone slabs, and oval monoliths which portray schematic anthropomorphic figures have been discovered here. Much like the standing stones at Stonehenge and other Megalithic sites, these stones are thought to have been of great religious significance. At their bases, wear and discoloration shows that they were surrounded by flowing water, probably a water source such as a spring or stream.
Clues left behind have led archaeologists to believe that the people who inhabited this now submerged village were forced to flee suddenly. One such clue is a huge cache of preserved fish, which might have been part of a food store or which might have been used for trade. It is thought that a tsunami or similar storm caused the city to sink sometime between 6,500 and 6,300 BCE, after the eruption of nearby Mount Etna. Another theory states that glacial thaw after the last ice age caused sea levels to rise, causing the town to submerge gradually; whichever of these acts of nature caused the city to sink, it has been marvelously preserved for study and exploration today.
The Phoenician Harbor and Ancient Warship
While visiting Atlit to view Atlit-Yam, divers should also take time to investigate the Phoenician Harbor, the sunken foundations of which date back to between 700-600 BCE. These are believed to be the remnants of the world’s earliest breakwaters, which formed straight walls around the natural bay here. Huge ashlar blocks laid end to end and one atop another create a spectacular sight. During ancient times, the site also included a wall with a gate to separate the harbor from the city, protecting its inhabitants from sea-borne invaders.
Here, the cargoes of several vessels have been located, along with stone anchors. Many amphorae, which were used to transport goods such as wine and olive oil, are still lying along the bottom of the sunken harbor.
In Atlit’s northern Bay, the ram of an ancient warship was discovered just four meters beneath the surface. Cast of bronze, it is 2.26 meters long and weighs nearly half a ton. Decorated with mythological symbols including eagles, a trident or thunderbolt, and the caduceus, this ram was designed to batter enemy ships and is thought to have originated in Cyprus. It may have belonged to a ship sailed under King Ptolemy VI, who ruled between 204-184 BCE. This artifact, along with many of the discoveries made in the harbor and in other areas around Atlit, is on display in the National Maritime Museum in Haifa.
A visit to Haifa involves planning well in advance. Dive insurance is mandatory, so unless your travel insurance specifies that diving activities are covered, be sure you’re prepared to present a separate policy. Dive operators tend to be well organized and well equipped, and rentals are usually available.
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Interesting read.