Holocene tectonic activity in the Galilee coast and shallow shelf, Israel: A geological and archeological study

The Galilee coastal plain of Israel is tectonically active, as shown by previous studies. The present study, using geological, geomorphological, and archeological methods, deals with the rates of this tectonic activity during the Holocene. Geological and geomorphological features, such as E-W-oriented faults forming alternating horsts and grabens along the coast, submerged terraces along E-W lineaments located as the westward continuation of the E-W onshore faults, submarine "canyons" crossing kurkar ridges, and joint systems on land, all point to active tectonic activity throughout the Holocene. On the other hand, archeological features such as rock-cut installations, coastal structures, and harbor installations, suggest relatively stable land-sea relationships in the region during historical times. This contradiction can be explained by the relatively low rates of vertical tectonic displacements estimated in this study. Such low rates, less than 20 cm per 1000 y, cannot be identified in the archeological record of the last 2000-2500 y.