Five decades of marine archaeology in Israel

The history of maritime archaeology in Israel began in the 1950s. This article summarizes the emergence of the discipline and its evolution, the main institutions involved, the physical conditions and their influence on the nature of ancient maritime activity, the nature of the sites, site formation, post-deposition processes, and the associated methodologies of underwater archaeological research. The typology of sites and significant finds that have been studied are briefly reviewed. These range from submerged Neolithic settlements inundated by the postglacial rising sea level, harbors, anchorages, shipwrecks, and cargoes up to World War II.