Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village
Pre-Pottery Neolithic C (PPNC, 7550–6570 BCE) — with earliest olive and well 5.5 m·PPNC Mediterranean fishing-farming village with stone wells 1.5 m diameter·🇮🇱 Coastal Plain, under Atlit bay 8–12 m, 300 m offshore, 10 km south Haifa, Israel
About
About Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village
Atlit-Yam Galili 1984 PPNC 7550 BCE oldest well. Recorded context — Period: Pre-Pottery Neolithic C (PPNC, 7550–6570 BCE) — with earliest olive and well 5.5 m; Culture: PPNC Mediterranean fishing-farming village with stone wells 1.5 m diameter; Field status: excavated; Materials: kurkar stone wells, PPNC pottery? none aceramic, olive stones, seed 300k; Condition: submerged 8–12 m — eroding with storms, skeletons and wells exposed after storms.
Why it mattersKey PPNC Mediterranean fishing-farming village with stone wells 1.5 m diameter submerged-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Astronomical alignment
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Territorial marker
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 7500 BCE village half-circles; well 6 m deep 7500 BCE stone built
- Period
- Pre-Pottery Neolithic C (PPNC, 7550–6570 BCE) — with earliest olive and well 5.5 m
- Culture
- PPNC Mediterranean fishing-farming village with stone wells 1.5 m diameter
- Purpose
- PPNC fishing-farming submerged 40 ha village (7000 human bone) with 7 stone wells (oldest 7550 BCE well 5.5 m deep 1.5 m diameter, filled with 300k seeds) and earliest olive presses
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1922
- Excavation
- Excavated
1890 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village
c. 7500 BCE village half-circles; well 6 m deep 7500 BCE stone built
Initial construction / first occupation at Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village
On the ground
Structures & features
32.7100° N · 34.9340° E · -10 m · 3 mapped features
- Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village — Principal Harbourharbourharbour at Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village — outlier feature32.7113° N · 34.9339° E
- Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village — Northern Wallwallwall at Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village — primary structure32.7106° N · 34.9336° E
- Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village — Temple Annex 3templetemple at Atlit-Yam — PPNC Submerged Neolithic Well Village — primary structure32.7112° N · 34.9346° E
Gallery