Trip to Tel Shikmona

We will meet at the car park near the Haifa Oceanographic Institute (also known as the Institute for Seas and Lakes Research) at the end of Hubert Humphrey Street.

10:00 – 11:00 Archaeology
• We will look at the byzantine mosaic salvaged when the Oceanographic Institute was built.
• Climb up the Tel and look at the view of the Haifa coast.
• The Byzantine excavations
• The Round Pool
• The discovery of Ancient Tel Shikmona and what it was.

11:00 – 12:00 A little marine biology
What animals can you find in the shallows off Haifa.
We’ll climb down to the water and see what animals we can find (it will depend on the tide, but we’ll surely find something interesting!) What animals can we hear?

Dr. Diana Barshaw was a research scientist and professor in the field of behavior and ecology of marine animals from 1988 to 2004. Starting in 2005 she wrote a monthly column for the Jerusalem Post called ‘Wild Israel’ and a blog for the Times of Israel. On her website http://www.dianabarshaw.com/ she describes the Israel National Trail and has compiled a guide to hiking the trails of the Carmel Mountains. Diana has recently been certified as an Israeli Tour Guide.

1. For those travelling by bus, the 112 from Haifa Municipality / Bialik takes you to Ein Hayam, which is a few hundred meters from the Institute.
2. Tel Shikmona is around a 5-minute walk from the Institute.
3. Bring walking shoes, water, a hat, snacks and a packed lunch if you like.