Skulls on the beach: The storm caused heavy damage in the Crusader cemetery on the Carmel coast

Following the recent storm, heavy damage was done to the Crusader fortress on the coast of Atlit and the ancient cemetery next to it. This is one of the best preserved historical sites in the country. The Carmel Coastal Regional Council said in response that "the Council has cooperated with the Israel Antiquities Authority for the preservation, fencing and maintenance"

Skulls on the beach: The storm caused heavy damage in the Crusader cemetery on the Carmel coast

Heavy damage was recently caused to the Crusader cemetery in Atlit, and this morning (Monday) the IAA members are engaged in a hasty burial of bones and skulls that were exposed and washed as a result of the intense winds and rain. The bones were collected, placed in a groove that opened in the ground, covered with a carpet that was in place and a bulldozer covered everything with dirt. Antiquities officials demanded not to take photos of this activity, keeping anyone trying to get closer to the area.

Horizon Galilee, a 24-year-old underwater works diver from Atlit, arrived at a nearby beach on Thursday and was shocked by the sight of skulls scattered near the beach, threatening to be washed out to sea. He knows the site well since childhood, because he is the son of Dr. Udi Galili, an Atlit resident and volunteer in the Blue and Green Association, who worked extensively to preserve the place. "Dad heard that I was on the beach and asked me to check what was going on there in the rains, and his sense was right, And awful, "he told Walla! NEWS, adding that he immediately notified the IAA.

The complex next to Atlit fortress is of importance to the Christian world and one of the historic cemeteries that has been preserved in its rarity. The cemetery is estimated to have more than 1,700 graves, which are buried knights, pilgrims, residents of the Old City that existed in the area, and professionals working in the fort. The cemetery was established in close proximity to the Atlit Fort, built from 1217 to 1218 by the Knights Templar Order with the assistance of pilgrims, hence its name - the Pilgrim's Fort. He was one of the greatest and most elaborate fortresses of the Crusader Kingdom, and served as the last stronghold of the Crusaders before their withdrawal from the Holy Land in 1291.

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The skulls near the cemetery, today

Skulls at Crusader cemetery in Atlit January 13, 2019 (Photo: official website)

Despite its importance, the cemetery remained neglected for a long time. In 2014, it was discovered that on the site, located near the beach, picnics and barbecues are held right on the ancient tombstones, and that the tombstones in the place are dismantled. The Carmel Coastal Regional Council promised to work for the preservation of the place, fenced it and placed an informational sign on the site. However, the sea often broke through the wall that defines the place and swept some tombs.

In 1934, after the discovery of the cemetery, it was excavated by the Antiquities Department of the British Mandate, which estimated the number of tombs in it to be about 1,900. In 2015-2017, archaeological excavations were again carried out in the Crusader cemetery. Five Bordeaux researchers have dug a number of tombs in the complex, found particularly guarded skeletons, 800 years old and with marks of sword injuries, indicating the battles that have taken place in the area. In addition, unique burial findings were found that indicate burial on the floors and burial. The researchers intend to use the biological information sampled from the graves, through which they will try to decipher additional information related to funeral procedures, the gender of the graves, war events that occurred in the area and more.

And Abu Nassar, who is used in Israel, speaks to the Vatican, telling Walla! NEWS that "While we are not directly related to this cemetery, which is actually an archeological site, it is clear that when we see these sights we are shocked, as every human being is shocked by them." He added, "We of course ask the competent authorities to handle this unbearable situation, because every person deserves a burial of honor, whether buried last year or a thousand years ago."

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Despite its importance, the cemetery remained neglected for a long time. The skulls near the cemetery, today

Skulls at Crusader cemetery in Atlit January 13, 2019 (Photo: official website)

The Israel Antiquities Authority said: "The severe storm in recent days has revealed human remains from an Atlit cemetery dating to the Crusader period. Antiquities Authority officials, in cooperation with the Carmel Coastal Council and residents, reached the area today to bring the situation back to normal." They added that "the British defense wall, which collapsed under the pressure of the rains, has also been restored. The IAA is calling on the public to assist it in preserving the treasures of the country and to report ancient findings that appear to have been exposed due to the rains."

The Carmel Coastal Regional Council said in response that "the Carmel Coastal Regional Council considers the Crusader cemetery at Atlit an integral part of the history and heritage of the Land of Israel, and, therefore, cooperated with the Israel Antiquities Authority for the preservation, fencing and maintenance." They also claimed that the council assisted the French embassy during the archeological excavations at the site, "aid estimated at tens of thousands of shekels."

"During the recent storm days, rainfall in our area has dropped in huge quantities, causing significant and significant damage - to property, infrastructure and more," added the Carmel Coastal Regional Council. "These damages are also evident in the cemetery, and we are working with the Israel Antiquities Authority, which is responsible for the preservation and maintenance of the site, for repairing the fencing on the site, and returning it to normal."

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"Shows that every human being is shocked by them." The skulls near the cemetery, today

Skulls at Crusader cemetery in Atlit January 13, 2019 (Photo: official website)