The effects of coastline and river changes on anchorages, harbours, and habitation patterns: the case of Akko

Abstract

At the ancient site of Akko/Acre, positioned on the northern side of the Haifa Bay, habitation patterns and anchorage locations changed over time. Causes for this are attributed to ecological and geomorphological fluctuations as well as the impact of human processes. The area is influenced by the silt deposited by the River Na’aman, and coastal sedimentation controlled by littoral currents. Akko/Acre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the area. This article reviews a variety of attempts using ground penetrating radar, electric resistivity tomography, coring, and limited archaeological excavations, to reveal the changing locations of anchorages and harbours, and link these to variations in habitation patterns.