Tell Abu Hawam

Tell Abu Hawam was a small port city founded during the Late Bronze Age around 1600 BCE, located near the modern city of Haifa, Israel. Mentioned by the geographer Scylax in the sixth century BCE as being situated between a bay and the promontory of Zeus, this city played a role as a fishing village and port. The site was excavated between 1929 and 1933, revealing a black-glazed bowl of the 'fish-plate' type, which featured a Phoenician graffito and dated to the 4th or 3rd century BCE. This suggests ongoing habitation and cultural interactions during the Middle Iron Age. The site is significant for understanding the development of ancient urban centers and maritime activities in the region.