-Iournal of Coastal Research :326-331 Royal Palm Beach, Florida Spring 1999

Evaluating Use of Rock-Hewn Features for Sea Level Measurement, Israeli Coast

Daniel Jean Stanley

Deltas-Global Change Program E-206 NMNH, Paleobiology Smithsonian Institution Washington D.C. 20560, U.S.A.

1 ~ • 1

STANLEY, D.J., 1999. Evaluating Use of Rock-Hewn Features for Sea Level Measurement, Israeli Coast. Journal of .tltllllll:. Coastal Research, 15(2), 326-331. Royal Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. ~ ~. Israel's Mediterranean coast, positioned on a structurally active margin, shifted vertically to some extent during the late Holocene. Consequently, changes of relative sea-level that account for both eustatic sea level and land motion ~~e ...., 1b-iUt are subtle and generally difficult to measure. This study evaluates the value of pools and other anthropogenic rock­ cut features used to measure changes of sea level during the late Holocene. A number of these depressions, originally formed to retain fish and for other purposes, still function at present sea level. Most rock-hewn pools and channels on the Israeli margin have been dated to Roman, Byzantine and Crusader periods, usually through indirect association with archaeological sites and other structures in the vicinity. In fact only a few of these features, such as the piscina at Caesarea with affixed mosaics, are accurately dated. It is proposed here that some rock-cut features on broad flat platforms, or trottoirs, at elevations close to present sea level, were formed in more recent time, possibly in association with quarry operations and removal of coastal rock material for construction during the past few centuries. Unless a rock-cut feature can be reliably dated, it should not be used to determine sea level or land motion on this geologically complex margin.

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Archaeological sites, eustatic sea level, historic time, Holocene, Israeli coast, hurhar. Mediterranean, neotectonics, piscinas, relative sea-level. rock-cut pools.

INTRODUCTION (GOLDSMITH and GOLIK, 1980; INMAN and JENKINS, 1984; STANLEY et al., 1998). As a consequence of structural control, Sea level and land are believed to have shifted along the fault offset and high energy wave regime, the coastal config­ Israeli margin during the late Holocene, but measurement of uration is gently arcuate (Figure 1), with only minor shore­ their vertical displacement is difficult and remains a topic of line crenulations and irregularities between Gaza and Haifa considerable complexity. Some studies indicate large fluctu­ (ORNI and ELISHA, 1971). The only large coastal reentry is ations of sea level during the past 2 millennia (SNEH and Haifa Bay on the northern margin between Haifa and Acre, KLEIN, 1984; MART, 1996, 1997), yet others record only minor or, in some cases, virtually no sea-level variation on the coast an integral part of the NW-SE trending Mount Carmel tec­ during this same period (FLINDER, 1976, 1985; GALILI and tonic province. SHARVIT, 1997). Moreover, some investigations have pro­ Sandy beaches and beachrock are backed by dunes, es­ posed that the Israeli coast proper during this time was af­ pecially along the southern coast north of Gaza and in Haifa fected by important vertical shifts of land (LEWY et al., 1986; Bay (Figure 1). High and steep wave-cut cliffs formed of eas­ NEEV et al., 1987), while other studies indicate that struc­ ily eroded unconsolidated sediment characterize sectors of tural displacement has been more moderate (FLEMMING and the central coast, while distinct elongate ridges formed by WEBB, 1986; RABAN, 1986; EMERYet al., 1988; NIR, 1997), or more resistant kurkar (carbonate-cemented sandstone) are even minor (MAZOR, 1974; MARTand PERECMAN, 1996; GAL­ exposed on much of the north-central and northern margins. ILl and SHARVIT, 1997). Along some stretches, indurated kurkar strata of different The basis for these interpretations is mapping of the lat­ Quaternary age are superposed and tilted seaward (GVIRTZ­ erally variable deposits that form Israel's relatively short MAN et al., 1983-1984), and as many as 4 parallel ridges are «200 km) Mediterranean coast and of the shore-parallel and recorded offshore at and north of Gaza (EMERY and BENTOR, shore-perpendicular faults that have offset some stretches of 1960; NIR, 1984; NEEV et al., 1987; EUROCONSULT and IWA­ this margin (EMERY and NEEV, 1960; GVIRTZMAN and CO, 1994). KLANG, 1972; NEEV et al., 1987). The coast of Israel receives Of special interest in the present study are kurkar expo­ the brunt of waves driven to the ESE across the eastern Med­ sures at and near the coast (Figure 2) shaped by coastal ero­ iterranean (CARMEL et al., 1984), resulting in erosion and ac­ sion, and also incised by quarrying operations that left broad tive dispersal of sediment by strong nearshore currents (locally to ~ 100 m) flat platforms, or trottoirs. These are com­ monly exposed at elevations near (Figure 2C), or just above 98164 received and accepted in revision 10 July 1998. (Figure 2D), or somewhat below (Figure 2E) present sea level. Sea Level Measurement

during the past 2500 years ago, or since Persian, or Phoeni­ cian, time. Nearly 200 publications were considered for this study. Some studies emphasize remarkable 'elevator style' up-and-down oscillations (for example, a vertical shift of' nearly 2 m from 1500 to 700 years ago, or to 2.5 mm/yr. at Dol' and Caesarea; SNEH and KLEIN, 1984; MAHT, 1997). ()th­ Haifa er investigations, however, favor more modest (NIH, 1997) Bay and/or only minor «0.5 mm/yr or less) sea-level changes (FLINnER, 1976, 1985; GALI!.I and SHAHVIT, 1997 L In addition to sea-level changes, there have been various interpretations on recent neotectonics and the associated z Athlit land shifts along different sectors of the Israeli coast. These ~ changes would have affected late Holocene sea level position. ~ and are grouped into ;3 categories: (1 ) a small number of stud­ Caesarea ies propose large-scale tectonic motion; (2) a somewhat larg'er :< number of investigations indicate a more modest shift; and ~ (;3) a growing number of studies favor only minor or no land C< displacement. ~ Several investigations emphasize considerable vertical d is­ ~ placement. such as at Akhziv on the northern Israeli (,()~lst f....., where extensive uplift to 7-8 m during the past 2000 years ~ ii,« to 4 mrn/yr) was proposed (NEEV et 01., 197:3, 19H7: LI<\\'Y Q c! al.. 1986). Such interpretations are based on surficial geo­ 32° I.Q logic mappiru; and geophysical surveys coupled with arch.rc­ ~ ological information. However. in the C:'lse of mure ext n'flH' neotectonic scenarios, such as at Ak hziv, the ardl~l('olog'i('al evidence used to substantiate such large-scale' vc-rt.icul land motion has been seriously questioned (MAZ< )1\, 1974: I{<)~ !<:'\. 1980). In marked contrast, other studies, including those that cm­ phasize archaeological findings, favor 1110n' modest or no l.mr] Ascalon mot.ion at the coast proper during the past 2500 vears. Alllong Tel Ascalon arguments proposed for minor neotectonics or stable struc­ tural conditions are those proposing use of anthropogenic ('ea­ GAZA Lures that appear to have functioned for relatively long pe­

Figure 1. Map, modified from El\1EHY and NEE\' (1~)()()), showing posi­ riods of time, are dated to historic periods, and are positioned tion of some rock-cut features on coastal kurkar strata of tlu- lsrncl i mar­ at elevations proximal to present sea level (Figure 2 l. (~it<'d gin. Modern cities are denoted by normal font., and archat'ological sites in that respect are water wells (NII{ and ELnAH, 19H7; CALI 1,1 by italics: st.ippl ing indicates 1wachl's backed by broad st.r.mdl iIll'S and and NII{, 199:j; NIl{, 1997) and depressions such as pools, dunes. tanks and channels cut into kurkar. These depressions may be round or rectangular (Figure 2), and were hewn at sea level for decorative use (piscinas) and for practical purposes Prehistoric and historic sites and individual structures posi­ (salinas, fish ponds, basins for live muricid gastropods col­ tioned along the shoreline, and also some that are sub­ lected for purple dye). I have observed 18 of these rock-cut merged, provide additional data to measure coastal shifts of features, primarily on the north-central and northern coast land and sea level. Dated archaeological features, combined at an elevation close to sea level (Figure 1). Many studies with associated physiographic and geological information, have called attention to the fact that some of these pools are have been used to interpret the recent evolution of Israel's still functional (FLINDER, 1976, 1985; SNEH and KLEIN, 1984; Mediterranean coast (FLEMMING and WEBB, 1986; GALILI et RABAN, 1986; MART, 1996, 1997; MART and PERECMAN, al., 1988). The present study, however, indicates that use of 1996; GALILI and SHARVIT, 1997). some anthropogenic structures, and particularly poorly or un­ reliably dated rock-cut features, can result in misleading in­ terpretations of late Holocene sea-level fluctuations on this OBSERVATIONS IN LIGHT OF RELATIVE margin. SEA LEVEL It is of no surprise that numerous stretches of the Levant SUMMARY OF DIVERSE INTERPRETATIONS margin, including the Israeli coast, an integral part of the The extensive geological and archaeological literature con­ geologically young and still evolving eastern Mediterranean, cerned with the Israeli coast in the late Quaternary records have been affected by structural displacement as recently as markedly diverging interpretations on sea level evolution late Quaternary to modern time (NEEV et al., 1973; PIRAZ-

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 15, No.2, 1999 328 Stanley

Figure 2. Photographs, taken in May 1995, showing examples of rock-hewn features on the Israeli coast. (A) circular depression interpreted by some as a live ba sin for maintaining muricid snails (purple dye ), at Sh iqmona, near Haifa; (B) water entering this basin via a channel indicates that the feature functions at pre sent sea level. (C) shallow rectangular pool positioned near present sea level and cut on a broad, possibly quarried, kurkar trottoir in the vicinity of Dor .(D) broad erosional kurkar platform in the vicinity of Dor that may have been quarried. (E) near-fiat kurkar surface positioned at shallow depth below pr esent sea level at Acre ; rectangular features above and below sea level, including some pool-like depressions, were formed largely by qua rry operation.

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 15, No.2, 1999 Sea Level Mea surement 329

ZOLI, 1986; MART, 1996; MART and PERECMAN, 1996 ; PIR­ AZZOLI et al., 1996 ). Whether neotectonic stability or marked Scenario 2 change of land and/or sea-level characterize the coast proper, Scenario 1 present there is general agreement among different geological and sea level archaeological studies that the seafloor immediately west of (s.I.) the shoreline has been recently displaced. Offset on the coast and offshore is commonly attributed to flexure and shift of land, especially along an important coast-parallel faul t sys­ te m (RABANet al., 1990; MART and PERECMAN, 1996 ). How­ 1) no s.1.change nor 1) s ol. rise less than 1) sol.has risen, but no land rise vert ica l land motion land rise or ever, the magnitude of this offset can be obscured by settle­ or or 2) s.1. rise greater than that ment of large construction that has induced compaction, such 2) both sol. and land have 2) no sol.rise, but land rise of land rise moved same total amou nt, or or as the artificial harbor at Caesarea (GALILI and SHARVIT, either at the same time 3) sol.lowe red , and no 3) no sol.change, but land 1997). or at different times land disp laceme nt subsided The position of the sea along the coast can best be evalu­ ated in terms of changing relative sea level , i.e. the resultant rock-hewn of worldwide (eustatic) changes of sea level and coeval effects structure of regional and/or more local land motion. With tides ranging sea within ---- 30 em in this land-bound sea, displacement of recent land land and sea motion may be measured somewhat more readi­ (kurkar) ly than in other oceans where much larger tides tend to mask Figure 3. Schem es illus trating three scenarios that emphasize relative subtle vertical shifts of land. Tide-gauge data collected during sea-leve l, and involve a se ries of sea-level and/or land fluctuations that this century along the Israeli coast re veal land motion as an could have occurre d at the sa me, or at different, times on the Israeli coast. important, albeit regionally variable, component: land rise has been modest at Ashdod and Yafo at the southern and central coast, and more extensive to the north at Haifa (EM­ along the Israeli coast were surely cut in Roman to Crusader ERY et al., 1988 ). Results of a recent analysis of tide-gauge time, it cannot be ruled out that other trottoirs were hewn data throughout the Mediterranean, where absolute sea-level more recently by quarrying operations and removal of rock variations are distinguished from crustal movement (ZERBINI needed for construction in Israeli cities and towns, perhaps et al., 1996), are also of note. That study indicates an average during the past 300 years (Dr. Y. NIR, 1998 , personal com­ relative rise of sea level during the past 30 years, with a rate munication). Review of available documentation pertaining to of eustatic rise accounting for somewhat less than 1.0 mm/ such kurkar material used for construction during the recent year, while rates of vertical land motion may reach to 1.0 past, and perhaps more refined petrologic analyses of rock­ mm/year. These findings are compatible with a recent com­ cut features could provide a more reliable basis to date fea ­ pilation in othe r world oceans that also record s a recent world tures on kurkar platforms. In any case, evidence available at rise in sea level of ---- 1.0 mm per year (MILLIMAN and HAQ, this time does not prove, nor does it preclude, the possibility 1996). of some pools-many of which are positioned at, or near, pres­ On the ba sis of assigned age and function, rock-cut features ent sea level- having been cut du ring the past few centuries. such as piscinas, pools, tanks and channels have been used Emphasis should be placed on relative sea level to better by some archaeologists as gauges with which to mea su re interpret the position of rock-hewn features cut into kurkar, changes of sea level and regional and local land motion. It is Tho se that are now positioned at an elevation above present noted that most rock cut installations on the Israeli coast are sea level can be explained in at least three ways (Figure 3, most commonly attributed to Roman, Byzantine and Crusad­ scenario 2): by less sea-level rise than land rise; or a fixed er periods (E. Galili, 1998 , personal communication), and that sea level but land rise; or lowering of sea level but no land many still occupy their original position relative to sea level. motion. In contrast, a feature cut in kurkar that now lies at For some , this implies long-term neotectonic stability, with an elevation below present sea level may also be explained only minor shifts of land and sea level affecting the coast in at least three ways (Figure 3, scenario 3): by sea-level rise during the past 20 or more centuries (GALILI and SHARVIT, without land rise; or sea-level rise exceeding land rise; or no 1997). sea-level change while land subsided. Here, I call attention to two other possibilities that may The above schemes can be applied to rock-hewn features explain the position at present sea level of a rock-cut feature such as those at Dol' and Caesarea, where two independent on the Israeli margin. The first emphasizes relative-not eus­ studies (SNEH and KLEIN, 1984; MART, 1997 ) have indicated tatic-sea level in a setting where both land and sea may that sea level in Roman time was positioned at or near pres­ have moved up or down by the same amount, either at the ent sea level, then rose by nearly 1 m at 500-900 AD, and same or at different times, during the past two millennia subsequently was lowered by ---- 1 m at 1200-1300 AD before such that present sea and land levels are near coincident returning to present level (Figure 4A, B). These two site-spe­ (Figure 3, scenario 1). The second possibility, more radical, cific studies present similar interpretations: based in large suggests that some rock-hewn features identified as Roman, part on archaeological data, they tend to emphasize eustatic Byzantine or Crusader in age may actually be much younger. sea level. However, the emphasis on large-scale (---- 2 m) up­ Although a number of coastal kurkar ledges and trottoirs and-down sea-level oscillation and return of sea level to its

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 15, No.2, 1999 330 Stanley

quently cited Roman piscina at Caesarea, dated by mosaics Eustatic sea level oscillation - stable land scenario and its position directly on and within well-defined Herodian A (Caesarea, after Mart , 1997) 1500 - 1100 yr B.P. structures (FLINDER, 1976, 1985; RABAN et al., 1990; MART 1.0 (500 - 900 A.D.) and PERECMAN, 1996) is, in fact , an exceptional case. Deter­ ____ 0.5 E mination of the precise age of most pools is difficult and most ---- 0 prese nt ill s.1. rock-cut features in coastal kurkar have been dated only in­ ~ -0.5 .....J directly, by association with proximal archaeological sites or m 1.0 (f) 1.5 structures. Such depressions are not usually characterized by age-diagnostic attributes such as mosaics and ceramics af­ fixed directly to sandstone, nor have such features been spe­ cifically dated as yet by associated and/or affixed diagnostic

Transgressive/regressive/transgressive - stable land scenario algae and fauna (cf LIPKINand SAFRIEL, 1971) or by biogenic (Dar, after Sneh and Klein, 1984) structures attributed to an earlier, pre-modern time. B 1500 -1100 yr B.P. (500 - 900 A.D.) To distinguish sea level from land motion during the late 1.0 Holocene on the Israeli coast remains a challenge, and clearly I 0.5 800 - 700 yr B.P (1200 - 1300 A.D.) Present requires a cautious approach. With regards to rock-hewn fea­ Q) 0 present Q)> s.1...... J -0.5 tures, the most obvious need at this time is reliable dating to co ~ 1.0 determine if these were formed during Phoenician, Hellenis­

1.5 tic , Roman, Byzantine or Crusader period, or more recently. Tempting as it may be, a rock-cut feature should not be used

rock-hewn to determine sea-level or land motion unless it can be accu­ structure rately dated.

Minor sea level - stable land scenario c (Israeli coast water wells, after Nir, 1997) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1.0 800 - 700 yr B.P (1200 - 1300 A.D.) I 0.5 I thank colleagues in Israel, including E. Galili, G. Gvirtz­ present ~ s.1. man,Y.Mart , D. Neev , Y. Nir, A. Raban and D. Sivan, for ~ -0.5 co fruitful discu ssion s and taking the time to guide me along ~ 1.0 the coas t. Also appre ciated are useful reviews of the original 1.5 manuscript by N.A. Ellis and E. Reinhardt, and funding pro­ vided for the study by the National Geographic Society, Figure 4. Schemes highlighting seve ra l exa mples of relative sea- level Smithsonian Scholarly Studies Program, and National Mu­ shifts documented along the Israeli coast. A, B, diagram s depict similar relative sea-level oscillation patterns based on geological and archaeolog­ seum of Natural History Walcott grants. ical data collecte d in separate st udies at 2 different sites, Caesarea and Dor. C, data derived from coasta l wells record a relative sea-level pattern LITERATURE CITED that, through time, differ s markedly from A and B. CARMEL, Z.; INMAN, D.L., and GOLIK, A., 1984. Transport of Nile sa nd along the southeastern Mediterranean coast. Coastal Engi­ neering, 19, 1282-1290. stand of 2000 years ago warrants further attention. It is use­ EMERY, K.O.; AUBREY, D.G., and GOLDSMITH, V., 1988. Coastal neo­ ful, in this respect, to consider results of another survey te ctonics of the Mediterranean from tide-gauge records. Marine ba sed on water wells sited along a broad stretch of Israeli Geology, 81, 41-52. coast and that indicate a different sea-level pattern than the EMERY, K.O., and BENTOR, Y.K., 1960. The continental shelf of Is­ above (NIR, 1997 ). In that survey, it is proposed that sea level rael. Geological Survey ofIsrael , Bulletin 26, 25-41. EMERY, K.O. , and NEEV, D., 1960. Mediterranean beaches of Israel. 2000 years ago was also positioned at approximately the Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin 26, 1-23. same level as present but, instead of lowering as at Dor and EUROCONSULT AND IWAco, 1994. Gaza environmental profile, Part Caesarea, sea level rose at ------1200- 1300 AD before returning 1, Inventory of Resources. Palestinian Environmental Protection to its present stand (Figure 4C). Authority, Gaza, 1-60. Identification of different sea-level stands along this coast FLEMMING, N.C. , and WEBB,C.O., 1986. Tectonic and eustatic coast­ al changes during the last 10,000 years derived from archaeolog­ during the relatively short period of time consi dered suggests ical data. Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie N.F, Sup plement 62, 1­ the probable role of variable land motion alon g the coast and, 29. consequently, the importance of relative-not eustatic- sea FLINDER, A., 1976. A piscina at Caesarea-a preliminary survey. level fluctuations in this region. It is clear from the above Israel Journal, 26, 77- 80. that to avoid misinterpretation when determining sea-level FLINDER, A., 1985. Th e piscinas at Caesarea and Lapi tho s. In: Ra­ ban, A. (ed.), Harbour Archaeology: Proceedings of the 1st Interna­ change re quires, at the very least, an accurate age assign­ tional Workshop on Ancient Mediterranean Harbors, Caesarea ment to the rock-hewn feature being used for such calcula­ Maritima, BAR International Series 257 , Pub. No.1, pp. 173-178. tion. GALILI, E., and NIR, Y., 1993 . The submerged pre-pottery neolithic water well of Atlit-Yam, northern Israel, and its palaeoenviron­ CONCLUSIONS mental implications. The Holocene, 3, 265-270. GALILI, E., and SHARVIT, J., 1997. Ancient coastal installations and Rock-cut features should be reliably dated if they are to be the stability of the Israeli coast in historic times. Late Quaternary used for sea level measurement. The well-studied and fre- Coastal Tectonics , Geological Society of London, 0-08.

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 15, No.2, 1999 Sea Level Measurement

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Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 15, No.2, 1999