INA Projects in the Middle East
Bahrain Survey, Bahrain
Dead Sea Coastal Survey, Israel
Tantura Lagoon Wrecks, Israel
The Middle East has an ancient and venerable maritime tradition that dates from early antiquity with voyages along the Arabian peninsula and the shores of the Levant, as well as up the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Among the more significant INA projects in this region has been the excavation by Shelley Wachsmann of a graveyard of ships in Tanura Lagoon, Israel, off the ancient site of Tel Dor; six shipwrecks, ranging in age from the 4th to 10th centuries AD, and one from the 18th century, were studied between 1994 and 1996 by students, faculty and staff from INA, Texas A&M University, and Haifa University's Recanati Center for Maritime Studies. Dr. Wachsmann has also surveyed for wrecks off the coast of Israel, and is currently searching for Minoan wrecks on the sea route between Crete and Egypt. INA's Asaf Oron, meanwhile, has conducted a survey for sites along the receding shores of the Dead Sea.
Another significant project was a 10-week survey by Ralph Pedersen of the coast of the Persian Gulf state of Bahrain, which revealed one shipwreck and hinted at the potential of additional discoveries.
