Hatmarim Beach Wrecks: Historical Archaeology in Akko Harbor, Israel

Summary

While Israel is often associated with the archaeology of ancient peoples, civilizations, and cultures, the modern history and archaeology is also essential to the study of Akko’s maritime activities. Three targets along Hatmarim Beach in Akko were discovered during the Israel Coast Exploration Project’s 2011 survey, as well as a fourth target via aerial photographs in 2012. It is possible that one or more of these ships belonged to the Egyptian fleet commanded by Admiral Osman Nour-ed-din Bey in the First Egyptian-Ottoman War. Osman’s fleet comprised seven frigates, four corvettes, six brigs, a single bomb vessel, and several transport ships and gunboats, and was no doubt attended by many other support vessels as a constant stream of them are described as heading back and forth between Egypt and Akko during the siege. The poster focuses on the role of Akko as a coastal base and thus as a center of sea power and naval identity during the 19th century rule of the Ottoman Empire, while also highlighting the importance of historical archaeology in Akko through the study of the Hatmarim Beach Wrecks.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Poster Session   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): POS-98,22