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‘Atiqot 74 (2013)
ISBN 2948-040X
Lead Fishing-Net Weights from the ‘Fisherman’s Grave,’ Akhziv
(Hebrew, Pp. 9*–17*; English summary, pp. 242–243)
Jacob Sharvit
Keywords: Mediterranean coast, cemetery, grave goods, metallurgy, fish
Some 73 lead fishing-net weights were found within a milk bowl in a Late Bronze Age II grave in the eastern Akhziv burial ground. Fishing nets, and the lead weights attached to them, are one of the earliest forms of fishing equipment, and have been used by Mediterranean fishermen for thousands of years. Thus, identifying and dating the weights is particularly difficult. The find of the lead weights in a sealed archaeological context in the Akhziv grave is especially important, because here they can be identified and dated, and a typological database can be constructed. Based on a comparison between the form, weight and number of the weights from the ‘Fisherman’s Grave’ at Akhziv and modern, traditional fishing nets, the weights belonged to a circular thrown net (cast net) used for fishing in shallow waters.