Born 1950, Haifa, got his MA and PhD from Haifa and Tel Aviv universities. Currently an underwater archaeologist and a researcher at the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa. His activity focuses on the study of man and sea relations along the coasts of Israel and the rescue of remnants of the maritime civilization developed there. He has discovered, excavated and researched Neolithic villages inundated by the sea along the Carmel Coast, shipwrecks and their cargoes, port installations, anchorages, salt producing plants and other coastal rock-cut remains. He studied the changes in SL and the tectonic activity along the Israeli coasts, the development of anchors, fishing gear, mariners’ personal property and their cultic objects, as well as the metal trade in the ancient maritime civilizations of the Levant. He founded the marine archaeology unit in the IAA and managed it until 2004. He participated in the formation and legislation of the Law for the Protection of the coastal Environment and serves as a member in the national committee for the Protection of the coastal Environment since its foundations.
He was honored by the Israel Defense Forces for locating a missing Mosquito plane, with its pilots, and by the Italian organization “Brothers of the Sea” for his contribution to the discovery of the Italian submarine Scire’ and repatriation of her warriors. He took part in compiling the National Policy Paper for Israel’s Coastal Waters, the National Policy Paper for protecting the coastal cliffs in Israel, the Policy Paper of the Nature and Parks Authority for the coastal environment and national marine parks and the National Policy Program for the marine territory of Israel. Research interests include submerged prehistoric settlements, sea-level changes, coastal installations for salt production, ancient seafaring, ancient shipwrecks, 20th century aircraft and ships lost at sea, fishing instruments and technologies, and preservation and management of the underwater cultural heritage.
