Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater
Bronze Age to Medieval (3000 BCE–1300 CE)·Canaanite / Phoenician·🇱🇧 South Governorate, Lebanon
About
About Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater
Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater in South Governorate, Lebanon is a Bronze Age to Medieval (3000 BCE–1300 CE) submerged-city attributed to Canaanite / Phoenician. Sidon's offshore Zire island quarry and sunken breakwater connecting to Sea Castle ridge. Carayon: Sidon Zire island 200 m breakwater now 3 m deep.
Why it mattersKey submerged harbour illustrating Canaanite / Phoenician maritime engineering
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Sea-level change marker
- 02Harbour engineering
Theories
- 01Canopic branch shifting
- 02Mediterranean port typology
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. 3000 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Medieval (3000 BCE–1300 CE)
- Culture
- Canaanite / Phoenician
- Purpose
- Sidon's offshore Zire island quarry and sunken breakwater connecting to Sea Castle ridge
- Excavation
- Submerged
c. 3000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1500 CE
Submergence by sea-level rise
c. 1995 CE
Underwater survey
On the ground
Structures & features
33.5630° N · 35.3700° E · -3 m · 4 mapped features
- Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater — Breakwater / MolemoleHarbour mole or breakwater structure33.5631° N · 35.3701° E
- Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater — Anchorage BasinbasinHarbour basin with mooring stones33.5628° N · 35.3701° E
- Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater — Storehouse / QuayquayWarehouses or quay wall33.5634° N · 35.3698° E
- Sidon Submerged Island Quarry and Breakwater — Drowned Shoreline SettlementshorelineShoreline houses now underwater33.5626° N · 35.3698° E