Kebara Cave
Kebara · Mugharet el-Kebara · Me’arat Kebara
Middle Palaeolithic to Natufian (c.60000–12000 BCE)·Mousterian (Neanderthal) → Aurignacian → Kebaran → Natufian·🇮🇱 Mount Carmel western slope, Israel
About
About Kebara Cave
Deep Mount Carmel cave with 15 m stratified sequence from Middle Palaeolithic (Mousterian, Neanderthal ‘Kebara 2’ pelvis/humerus, 60 ka) to Natufian. Mousterian levels yielded Levallois industry, hearths and the complete Neanderthal torso.
Why it mattersKey Mount Carmel western slope sequence for Middle Palaeolithic to Natufian (c.60000–12000 BCE); long-term cave base for neanderthal and later hunter-gatherers.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Kebara Cave relative to neighbouring centres?
Theories
- 01Regional centre hypothesis for Mount Carmel western slope
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural cave; Neanderthal occupation c.60000–48000 BCE
- Period
- Middle Palaeolithic to Natufian (c.60000–12000 BCE)
- Culture
- Mousterian (Neanderthal) → Aurignacian → Kebaran → Natufian
- Builders
- Mousterian (Neanderthal) communities
- Purpose
- Long-term cave base for Neanderthal and later hunter-gatherers
- Abandoned
- c. 9600 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 20th century survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
1960
Foundation/earliest horizon
1980
Major excavations
2020
Conservation/monitoring
On the ground
Structures & features
32.5600° N · 34.9650° E · 60 m · 2 mapped features
Kebara 2 Neanderthal horizon
layerMousterian layer with Neanderthal pelvis and thorax (60 ka)
32.5602° N · 34.9653° EAurignacian–Kebaran sequence
stratigraphyUpper Palaeolithic to microlith transition with hearths
32.5598° N · 34.9647° E
Gallery