Avner Raban (1935 - 2004)
Avner was not only one of the founders of the Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies, he was its central pillar.
All his life he was devoted to the unique goal of the study of the interrelationships between humankind and the sea. This devotion was expressed in both his teaching and his research.
For almost 30 years, Avner revealed, together with a large team of talented colleagues, students and research assistants, the mysteries of the Herodian harbor at Caesarea. He became an international expert on ancient harbors, but did not limit his scientific activities to Caesarea Maritime. He studied almost every archaeological marine site along the Mediterranean coast of Israel and the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba).
These were not regular scientific studies; Avner understood, from the very dawn of his marine research, that in order to answer scientific questions regarding the sea, an interdisciplinary approach must be adopted. Thus, he integrated into the research his knowledge, not only in the fields of marine archaeology, but in maritime history, geography and geomorphology. Avner always incorporated within this research experts from other disciplines such as engineering, architecture, marine geology, marine chemistry and marine biology, through which he was able to reach outstanding scientific achievements.
He led coastal and marine study field trips even in the most difficult weather conditions, during scorching hot days or in freezing storms. Throughout his long academic career, he organized many academic study cruises, which had outstanding educational value, widening and enriching students and colleagues’ knowledge.
