In central Nahariya lies an ancient site with the remains of an ancient port city with two main periods separated by 500 years: Canaanite fortress and temple (18th-13th centuries BCE) and a Phoenician port city (8th-3rd centuries BCE). This place served the political powers who ruled the fertile Acre plain and exploited the natural anchorage in the southern bank of the Ga’aton stream, which allowed docking ships who sailed through the ancient trade route across the Mediterranean coast. The ruins of the site peak at 7 m. Above the beach. The anchorage turned through the years into a swamp and was drayed in the 20th century CE, during the establishment of Nahariya.

Research history

The site was uncovered in a series of salvage excavations on the tell and in its surroundings, following construction works in the modern city. The Canaanite temple was excavated in 1947 by Immanuel Ben-Dor from the British Department of Antiquities and in 1954-1955 by Moshe Dothan. In 1980 and 1982 Ora Yogev of the Department of Antiquities excavated Tel Nahariya and revealed the “Early” and “Late” cities. Numerous excavations by the Israeli Antiquities Authority were conducted up to 2018, exposing 17 locations in the ancient mound, most recently under Ron Be’eri, Nimrod Getzov and Yair Amitzur.

Ancient anchorage and temple at Tel Nahariya in the 2nd Millenium BCE

The inception of Tel Nahariya is linked to migration waves from Syria and the Lebanese coast, who settled the Akko plain during the Middle Bronze Age. The earliest findings were discovered, around modern Balfur St., near the Ga’aton estuary. These were simple structures dated to the 18th century BCE. Later researchers hypothesized that it was the initiative of the city at Tel Kabri to develop the anchorage at a time when Egypt traded intensively with Byblos.

In the 17th century BCE, the structures were replaced by fortifications. Ora Yogev claimed it was a city wall but later excavations showed it was a large fortified structure, razed in the 16th century BCE. Some 500 m. to the north of the fortress was a Canaanite temple, deserted during the 15th century BCE.

In the Late Bronze Age, after the consolidation of Egyptian rule in Canaan during the 15th century the activity continued. Four successive fortresses were erected and razed in one after another. These 14th-13th century fortresses share the plan of those found at Tel Abu-Hawam, another Canaanite administrative center of that time. Female figurines, maybe of goddesses, were found. The remains of a kitchen were excavated, including an oven and a stone used for working dough. Remains of seeds, legumes, grapes, and oysters were also found. Flint sickle blades at the site indicate some agricultural activity. Other finds include simple tableware imported from Cyprus, which may indicate the presence of Cypriot merchants. The anchorage was deserted with the fall of the Egyptian Empire and the collapse of Canaanite society in the 12th century BCE. The site stood in ruins during the entire monarchical period of Israel.

Phoenician port city in the 1st millennium BCE

Scarce late Iron Age remains attest to renewed settlement shortly after the Assyrian conquest of 732 BCE. This was at a time when the cities of Tyre and Sidon flourished as they collaborated with the Assyrians and were involved in their trade affairs. Throughout the Persian period (late 6th–4th centuries BCE), a city was thriving in Tel Nahariya. It stretched along the coast from the Ga’aton stream to the north, to Kaplan St. to the south, and Remez St. to the east. A great effort was invested in urban planning and massive construction. A public quarter with paved streets was discovered in the center of the city, featuring large structures, maybe warehouses and workshops.

Some pottery at the site was imported from across the Mediterranean, including Cyprus and Greece. Among the finds are numerous metal objects such as arrowheads, lead weights used for fishing nets, needles, and pins. In one location, remains of cultic practice, including an Egyptian vessel, a pottery mask, and a stele were found. The coins at the site were all minted in Tyre during the 4th century BCE. The city had a rural-agricultural hinterland whose remains were found around the modern city.

The city dwindled after Alexander’s conquest in 332 BCE and was abandoned by the 3rd century BCE. The findings include jars imported from Rhodes and Greek coins, some minted in Tyre and Sidon. During the Roman period, a road was paved near the site, which led from Akko to Antioch (in modern-day Turkey).

Sources:

Be’eri, R., Getzov, N., Amitzur, Y. 2022. Between the Fortress and the Temple: On Administration and Cult in the Coast of Nahariya (in Hebrew). In Centro: Collected Papers, Volume 1 Motion, Movement and Mobility. 47-65. Read at Academia.edu.

Ariel, D. T. 1993. Coins from Excavations at Tel Nahariya, 1982. Atiqot 22. 125-132