Clearing antiquities from Leviathan's path

MARINE SALVAGE ARCHAEOLOGY: Scuba diving archaeologists find ancient marine relics from a 5,000-year-old port at site where Israel's Leviathan pipeline will be built (Harry Pettit, Daily Mail).

Scuba diving archaeologists are scouring the seabed where a gas pipeline is being built off Israel's coast in a bid to preserve ancient relics.

The area lies near a 5,000-year-old port which once was a key trade hub for the Mediterranean's ancient civilisations.

Scientists say the vestiges of marine traders throughout the ages - from the Phoenicians to the Romans - lie hidden beneath the seabed at the port of Dor.

They have already found earthenware jugs, anchors and the remains of wrecked ships, setting new guidelines for similar future projects.

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As usual, the Mail has some good photos. I was an assistant square supervisor back at Tel Dor in 1984-85 when I was a PhD student. Kurt Raveh was there then too, although I don't think we ever actually met. It was a big excavation.

Some past posts on Tel Dor are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

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