During June 2003, a trial excavation was conducted along the seashore in ‘Akko (Permit No. A-3939*; map ref. NIG 20685–90/75960–65; OIG 15685–90/25960–65), prior to the construction of a promenade. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority, was directed by A. Thatcher, with the assistance of A. Shapiro (surveying), L. Porath (pottery restoration) and H. Tahan (pottery drawing).
Two small areas were opened next to and inside the kurkar ridge, which reached an elevation of 3 m above sea level in this region. Remains that dated to the Crusader period (thirteenth century CE) were found.
A half square (2.5 × 5.0 m) was opened on the side of the cliff and a repair of fieldstones bonded with cement was exposed where bedrock had collapsed. A hewn bedrock ledge (width 0.6 m, height 1.2 m; Fig. 1), upon which the outer face of a wall had apparently been constructed, was uncovered. Pottery vessels from the thirteenth century CE were excavated at the foot of the bedrock ledge and below the sea level, including imported bowls (Fig. 2:1, 2) and a cooking krater (Fig. 2:5). Within the kurkar ridge, a square was opened in the center (3.5 × 3.5 m) of a hewn cavity, revealing Crusader-period pottery from the thirteenth century CE, including imported bowls (Fig. 2:3, 4) and cooking vessels (Fig. 2:6–8).
The results of the excavation corroborated previous proposals for the location of the northern Crusader city wall (E. Frankel 1987. The North-Western Corner of Crusader Acre. IEJ 37:256–261) and probably represented the northwestern corner of the city wall.