The 7th-9th Century Tantura E Shipwreck, Israel: Construction and reconstruction

The Tantura E shipwreck was discovered in Tantura lagoon, Israel, in a water depth of 2.8m, covered by 1m of sand. It was a coaster that plied the Levant coast, dated to the 7th-9th centuries CE. It was recorded under water, but several components were studied on land, as well as the finds. The hull is of frame-based construction, with flat floor timbers and a sharp turn of the bilge. The archaeological evidence, as well as modern design tools and regulations, suggests that Tantura E was c.12.5m long, of 25 tonnes displacement, and could load c.17.5 tonnes.