TEL AVIV – The Israel Antiquities Authority announced it will incorporate the recently unearthed remains of a 3,400-year-old citadel into a state-of-the-art beachfront tower.
An archaeological excavation in the northern coastal city of Nahariya exposed the remains of a millennia-old Canaanite citadel on a plot of land earmarked for the construction of a high-rise residential building. The excavation directors claim that the citadel once served as an administrative center for mariners from the ancient port city.
“Given the extraordinary nature and quality of the finds, the Israel Antiquities Authority sought a solution that would allow the conservation of some of the remains for the benefit of the public,” the IAA said in a statement.
“Thus, with the assistance of architect Alex Shpol, planner for the Interior Ministry’s Regional Committee for Planning and Construction, it was decided that part of the citadel would be preserved in the building’s basement level, where it will be displayed for the enjoyment of the residents and visitors.”
The archaeologists also said that several artifacts were discovered in the citadel’s rooms, including ceramic figurines of humans and animals, bronze weapons, and imported pottery vessels.
“The fortress was destroyed at least four times by an intense conflagration, and each time it was rebuilt,” the archaeologists said.
“An abundance of cereal, legumes, and grape seeds were found in the burnt layers, which are indicative of the provisions the sailors would purchase.”
The findings indicate a strong network of commercial and cultural relations between Cyprus and the rest of the lands in the Mediterranean basin.
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