Nahal Taninim
The Taninim at Ma'agan Micha'el
The Taninim (Hebrew Nahal Taninim, נחל תנינים ) is a river in Israel that flows north of Caesarea Maritima in Ma'agan Micha'el into the Mediterranean, as well as the name of a nature reserve and the ancient settlement of Tel Taninim on a promontory on the south bank of the Taninim estuary. " Taninim " is Hebrew for " crocodile " and is a reference to the fact that the Kebara Swamp of Taninim were once a habitat for crocodiles. The last living in the wild reptiles have been spotted around 1905.
Nahal Taninim
The Taninim (Arabic Wadi al - Zarqa, " Blue River " ) originates in the saline springs of En Timsach. Since its waters therefore was not suitable for drinking or agriculture, the source was not included in the national water project that was implemented in the 1960s. Also, because so far held no industrial or agricultural pollution, Taninim reputation as the cleanest of the coastal rivers of Israel. With its tributaries Ada, Alona, Barkan and Mischmarot the Taninim drains a total area of 200 km ².
In the late Roman or Byzantine period, a dam has been built, then a 6 -acre lake dammed .. From Taninim or the Kebara swamps water was passed to Caesarea, the aqueducts are still north of Caesarea, in Taninim - estuary and inland between Jisr a- Zarka and Beit Hanania available. The Kebara swamps are now largely drained, the land gained is mainly used by the kibbutz Ma'agan Micha'el to agriculture. A small section of marsh was obtained and is now a part of the Taninim Nature Reserve.
After a flow path 25 km of Taninim flows near Jisr a- Zarka into the Mediterranean.
Taninim Nature Reserve
The INPA has established the Taninim Nature Reserve with the help of Carmel Drainage Authority, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. It is located in a flat section of land between the coast and the western flank of Mount Carmel, Zichron Yaakov west of. The nature reserve covers a stretch of the river of Taninim, and the remains of the Byzantine dam.
The remains of the 193 m long dam were discovered in the winter flooding 1991/1992 by accident. Heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding and damage to agriculture. The response to these concerns flood protection measures in the dirt completely submerged dam was discovered. Other archaeological digs have revealed the large-scale Byzantine waterworks, which in addition to the dam and aqueducts, pumping stations and mills.
Tel Taninim
Tel Taninim, in Arabic Tell al - Milat, was an inhabited from the Persian period to the early Ottoman period settlement. The oldest findings point to a Phoenician foundation in the 5th century BC, at that time owned the coastal area to the kingdom of Sidon, which was a vassal kingdom of the Persians.
The place was named in the Hellenistic period Krokodeilonpolis. Presumably it is also called as the Migdal Malha in the Jerusalem Talmud place. The Byzantine period Tel Taninim was the northern county line of Caesarea. The Latin name is Turris salinarum, is a translation of the Aramaic name of Saline tower. This name was used until the Crusader period into it.
During the Hellenistic and Hebrew name of the place refers to the former in the river native crocodiles, refers to the Latin and Aramaic name on the economic significance: Tel Taninim was an ancient center of production of sea salt, which was produced in evaporation basins behind the coastline. Another industry was fish farming and fish processing to pickled fish. For the fish a freshwater basin system was created, which was fed from the aqueducts and 4 AD was in operation until the end of the 7th century. The supply of the aqueducts collapsed in the 6th century, after which wells were dug and continue the supply of groundwater.
First excavations were made in 1979, when the western part of the Tel threatened by erosion lost to go. It remains were uncovered by Byzantine buildings. In the years 1996-1999 Robert Stieglitz of Rutgers University conducted large-scale archaeological investigations. Probably the first, Phoenician and Hellenistic settlement was devastated by a flood, and only to be re in the Byzantine period.