Manot Cave

Hadashot ArkheologiyotExcavations and Surveys in Israel ISSN 1565 - 5334

About Guide to Contributors List Of Volumes Extended Reports Search

Omry Barzilai, Israel Hershkovitz, Ofer Marder, Avner Ayalon, Mira Bar-Mathews, Guy Bar-Oz, Elisabetta Boaretto, Francesco Berna, Amos Frumkin, Hamudi Khalaily, Stephen Weiner and Reuven Yeshurun

31/12/2012 Preliminary Report

During July 2010, a three-week excavation was conducted in the Manot cave (License No.

G-62/2010; map ref. 21835–45/77105–15), aiming to examine the feasibility of a long-term

interdisciplinary research project. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities

Authority (IAA) and Tel Aviv University (TAU), was directed by O. Barzilai and O. Marder

of the IAA, I. Hershkovitz of TAU, as well as A. Ayalon and M. Bar-Mathews (Geological

Survey of Israel, Jerusalem), G. Bar-Oz and R. Yeshurun (Zinman Institute of

Archaeology, University of Haifa), E. Boaretto and S. Weiner (Kimmel Center for

Archaeological Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science), F. Berna (MicroStratigraphy

Lab, Department of Archaeology, Boston University), A. Frumkin (Department of

Geography, Hebrew University of Jerusalem [HUJI]) and H. Khalaily (IAA). Assistance in

the excavation was provided by R. Lavi (IAA; area supervision), M. Goder and M. Ulman

(HUJI; area supervision), B. Langford, Y. Shavtiel and U. Davidovich (Cave Research Unit

of HUJI; cave mapping), V. Essman and Y. Shmidov (IAA; draft person), and students and

volunteers from the Universities of Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, as well as from Ben-Gurion

and Bar-Ilan Universities.

Volume 124 Year 2012

Manot Cave

of 11Israel Antiquities Authority

12/30/2013http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail_eng.aspx?id=2183&mag_id=119

The fieldwork in the cave was very complicated and required the assistance of a

rappelling team. We are deeply indebted to U. Hofesh, N. Distenfeld, E. Aladjem, S. Bar-

Tura and B. Ajami of the IAA for their outstanding operation of this logistically complicated

project. Thanks are also extended to D. Barshad, E. Stern, and Y. Lerer of the IAA

Northern Region Office for their tremendous efforts to make this project feasible. Z.

Greenhut, G. Avni and U. Dahari of the IAA assisted in pre-planning the project. Thanks

are due to Y. Rimon and S. Halvani from Qibbuz Yehi‘am and N. and R. Reuven from

Moshav Manot for their hospitality. Last, but not least, we thank S. Dorfman, director of the

IAA and the late Dan David, for initiating the project and underwriting the survey and

excavation season.

The Manot Cave was discovered in 2008 during construction activities that

damaged its roof. Immediately thereafter, a team from the Cave Research Unit of

the HUJI visited the cave and reported the findings of a human skull and other

archaeological remains to the IAA. A short archaeological survey ensued (License

No. S-59/2008), conducted by O. Marder and H. Khalaily and a spectacular cave

with active speleothems was documented, containing rich archaeological remains

(Fig. 1). Following these discoveries, the IAA and TAU decided to initiate a pilot

excavation season. This report presents the preliminary results of the field survey

and the excavation season.

The cave is located in the western Galilee, in a landscape characterized by low

limestone hills of late Cenomanian formation (c. 300 m asl) and fresh water

sources. The environment is Mediterranean Woodland vegetation, including open

park forests and the annual precipitation average is c. 600–700 mm. The site is

located c. 10 km north of Hayonim Cave and c. 50 km northeast of the Mt. Carmel

cave sites (Fig. 2).



The cave consists of an elongated hall (length 80 m, width 10–25 m) and two

lower chambers that are connected to it from north and south (Fig. 3).

The main hall is divided into three zones: a western talus, a plain and an eastern

talus. Rock falls and active stalagmites apparently blocked the initial entrance to

the cave at the far end of the western talus. This blockage sealed the cave for a

period of at least 15,000 years, as the most recent archaeological remains

identified in the excavation are dated to the Early Epipalaeolithic period.

The 2008 Survey

Due to unsuitable logistical conditions, including deficiency in oxygen inside the

cave and the absence of proper lights, the survey was brief (one working day),

focusing on the general characteristics of the site. The most obvious observation

referred to the cave being blocked by rock falls and probably having two

entrances, attested by two taluses; a small and moderate one in the east and a

massive steep one in the west.

Twelve archaeological find spots, containing diagnostic lithic artifacts, charcoal

pieces and faunal and human remains, were plotted. Notable among the lithic

components were Middle and Upper Palaeolithic tools and cores (Figs. 4, 5). The

tools consisted of a Levallois point (Fig. 4:1), typical of the Mousterian culture

(Hovers E. 2009. The Lithic Assemblages of Qafzeh Cave. New York). The Upper

Paleolithic component included burins (Fig. 5:1), bladelets (Fig. 5:2, 3),

overpassed blades (Fig. 5:5). Notable are Aurignacian tools (Belfer-Cohen A. and

O. Bar-Yosef 1981 The Aurignacian at Hayonim Cave. Paléorient 7/2:19–42),

such as nosed and carinated endscrapers (Figs. 5:4, 6). This notion was further

supported by a polished bone pendant (Fig. 5:7).

Faunal preservation in the cave seemed excellent. Complete skeletal elements of

large mammals, such as fallow deer, red deer, mountain gazelle, horse, aurochs,

hyena and bear, were observed (Fig. 4:2), as well as microfauna.



Although collected prior to the survey, the location of the human skull was plotted

and a preliminary lab work conducted by one of the authors (I.H.) identified this

incomplete calvarium as an anatomically modern human.

The 2010 Excavation Season

The excavation was conducted in three areas, opened adjacent to potential find

spots identified in the 2008 survey. Other objectives carried out during the

excavation included a comprehensive field survey in and outside of the cave,

documentation and collection of seven finds pots of bone accumulations,

recognized in the 2008 survey, by the archaeozoological team, a geological

exploration and documentation of the cave, including sampling speleothemes for

further lab research, and a sedimentlogical study of several localities, including

the excavation areas, for assessing post-depositional processes.

The excavation areas

Area A is located on a relatively flat surface between the two taluses, which is the

lowermost part in the cave hall (Fig. 3). The surface is characterized by rock falls

and active stalagmites, embedded in thick accumulation of mud. A total of 12 sq m

had been excavated. The finds from this area included mainly flint items, as well

as a few bone fragments. It was noted that the density of the finds increased with

depth. The lithic component consisted of Middle and Upper Paleolithic finds. The

former is represented by Levallois flakes and tools, while the latter by blade cores

and blanks.

Area B is located on the uppermost part of the western talus, which is the closest

location to the postulated natural entrance to the cave. The area is characterized

by massive rock fall accumulation. Most of the effort in this season was

concentrated in a narrow tunnel probe (length c. 5 m) that reached c. 2 m below

the surface. In addition, a trial zone (4 sq m) was excavated inside the grid. The



finds from this area included flint items, animal and human bones and the lithic

component consisted of Epipalaeolithic finds, namely Kebaran.

Area C was located on a steep slope toward the end of the western talus, where

an exposure of Upper Palaeolithic horizon was identified in the 2008 survey. The

surface was sealed by a flowstone that derived from a massive stalagmite to the

north (Sqs N-O 64–65). A total of 5 sq m were excavated and the stratigraphy is

very complex; it consists of at least two layers and several units. The finds in Area

C are plentiful, including flint artifacts, groundstone items, animal and human

bones and charcoal. Most of the material was retrieved from the upper unit, but

several items were collected from an exposure of the lower unit. Regardless of

stratigraphy, the Upper Palaeolithic tools display characteristics of both lithic

traditions, Ahmarian and Aurignacian.

The Faunal Remains

The most conspicuous feature of the archaeology of Manot Cave may be the

numerous accumulations of well-preserved animal bones on the surface, adjacent

to the cave's walls. The concentrations (hence ‘find spots’) greatly differ in size

and topography, as some are clearly the accumulation of fluvial transport,

composed of bones and lithic artifacts, presumably from archaeological layers

within the cave, while others are devoid of lithics and are found on topographically

higher places.

Seven find spots composed mainly of faunal remains were documented and

collected or sampled during the 2010 season, to study their taphonomy and

compare them to the faunal samples originating from the stratified archaeological

deposits.

Preliminary field observations stress the difference between the bones collected at

these find spots and the faunal remains from the stratified Paleolithic levels of the

cave, mainly Area C. The bones from the find spots are less frequently associated



with lithic items and are usually found at or near the surface, sometimes along

streams. They also exhibit more complete and clear carnivore gnawing marks.

The ungulate species are the same as in Area C (Gazella, Dama, Cervus,

Capreolus, Capra and Bos), but it seems that more large carnivore remains are

found in the find spots, whereas more small game (tortoise, hare, fox) are found in

Area C. It appears that both hominins and large carnivores, probably bear and/or

hyenas (see Fig. 4:2) played a significant role in creating the faunal assemblages

of Manot. According to the current available evidence, it is possible that

anthropogenic and carnivore deposits in the cave are spatially segregated. A

detailed taphonomic analysis and comparison of the find spots and the Paleolithic

faunas at Manot are needed to discern the agents of accumulation and post-

accumulation processes of the bone concentrations. This will enable us to draw

inferences on Upper Paleolithic subsistence and ecology.

The fieldwork at Manot shows great research potential. The archaeological finds

recovered so far attest to a cave inhabited from the Middle Paleolithic through the

Epipalaeolithic periods (250,000–15,000 BP), when it was naturally blocked.

The characteristics and composition of chipped stone tools, animal bones and

bone tools suggest that occupation in the cave was intensive during the Upper

Palaeolithic period. The cave has a prelatic morphology and probably included a

small entrance and two natural terraces inside it, where most of the human

activities likely occurred.

When unoccupied by humans, the cave was apparently used intermittently by

carnivores, as attested by concentrations of long bones along the cave walls.

Speleothems located throughout the cave include some massive clusters in the

center of the cave that predated the human occupation. The highly potential

speleothems research can be used for dating the human occupations by U-Th and



for isotopic research that could be helpful for reconstructing the paleoclimate in

the cave.

In sum, the excavation project at Manot is expected to shed light on one of the

most important phases in the history of mankind, the surrounding faunal world and

the climate and environment men had to cope with in the Eastern Mediterranean

region.

1. Active speleothems inside Manot Cave, looking northwest.



2. Location of Manot Cave and other prehistoric caves in northern Israel.



3. Plan of excavation areas; red circles represent find spots.



4. A Mousterian point (Middle Palaeolithic) and a carnivore canine from the 2008 survey.

5. Upper Palaeolithic finds from the 2008 survey.



רתא חותיפ teti-tuCopyright Legalicy to The Israel Antiquities Authority | Credits | תירבע הסרג



Manot Cave

Documents

Transcript of Manot Cave