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Megalithic structure - after excavation
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The site of Atlit-Yam is situated some 200-400 m offshore, at a depth of 8-12 m and extends over an area of ca. 40000 m2. Radiocarbon dates for the site gave a range of 8180-7550 years BP (uncalibrated). The architectural finds consist of stone-built water-wells, foundations of rectangular structures, series of long unconnected walls, round installations, ritual installations and stone-paved areas. In addition, 65 human skeletons were discovered in both primary and secondary burials. In at least four of the male individuals, an inner ear pathology - auditory exostosis - caused by diving in cold water, was observed.
Faunal remains consisted of bones of wild and domesticated animals, including domesticated sheep/goat, pig and dog and cattle on the verge of domestication, as well as numerous remains of marine fish. The fish remains included more than 6000 bones, most of them belonged to Balistes carolinesis, (the grey trigger fish), and a few to Serranidae, Sparidae, Sciaenidae, Mugillidae and other fish families. Artifacts made of stone, bone, wood and flint were also recovered, as well as large quantities of botanical remains, including seeds of domesticated wheat, barley, lentil and flax. Some of the artifacts and plant remains may be associated with fishing. The archaeological material indicates that the economy of the site was complex and was based on the combined utilization of terrestrial and marine resources involving plant cultivation, livestock husbandry, hunting, gathering and fishing. The Atlit-Yam site provides the earliest known evidence for an agro-pastoral-marine subsistence system on the Levantine coast.
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