Neolithic coastal adaptation and resilience in relation to environmental dynamics during the early Holocene in the Eastern Mediterranean

Neolithic coastal societies along the eastern Mediterranean remain underrepresented in archaeological narratives, mainly due to the submergence of early Holocene settlements by sea-level rise starting with the end of the last Ice Age. This article focuses on the submerged Neolithic sites off the Carmel Coast in the southern Levant as a case study for examining human adaptation and resilience in the face of dynamic environmental change. By providing a synthetic review of archaeological and paleo-environmental studies of the Carmel Coast, we examine how coastal communities have responded to stressors such as sea-level rise, flooding, salinization, and coastal transgression through technological, architectural, and economic strategies. These included the making of water wells and seawalls, diversified subsistence economies, and potential biological adaptations to coastal activities and health challenges. A conceptual framework is presented to link environmental stressors with adaptive responses and resilience outcomes. Our synthesis suggests that these coastal societies were not only facilitators in the spread of Neolithic lifeways across the Mediterranean but potentially could also have acted as key drivers of cultural innovation. Their marginalization in research reflects archaeological visibility rather than historical significance. This paper highlights the importance of coastal and marshy landscapes in shaping complex human-environment interactions and cultural innovation.