Tel Shikmona

Tel Shikmona, also known as Tell es-Samak, is an ancient Phoenician archaeological site located on the coast near Haifa, Israel. The tell showcases a significant timeline from the Late Bronze Age through the Byzantine period. It is renowned for its maritime connections, including a harbor mentioned by ancient historians, and an industrial dyeing workshop that produced the famed Tyrian purple using the Murex sea snail during the Iron Age. The site has yielded various pottery sherds, primarily from the 1st century CE. No remains from the Early Arab period have been found, suggesting its abandonment before the 7th century CE. The site provides valuable insights into Phoenician maritime trade and industrial practices, and its historical layers offer a glimpse into the transition from Phoenician to Byzantine rule.