Tabun Cave
مغارة الطابون · Taboun Cave · Tanur Cave · Mugharet et-Tabun
Lower to Middle Palaeolithic (c.500,000–40,000 BP)·Acheuleo-Yabrudian → Mousterian (Neanderthal)·🇮🇱 Haifa District, Mount Carmel, Nahal Me'arot Reserve, Israel
About
About Tabun Cave
World Heritage lower–middle Palaeolithic cave (500–40 ka), 25 m stratified deposits (G–A) on Mount Carmel western slope at Nahal Me'arot gorge mouth. Lower Palaeolithic Yabrudian (400 ka), Mousterian Neanderthal I & woman, Amudian blades, hearths. Excavated 1929–34 Garrod, 1965 Jelinek, 2003 Ronen. Levantine Palaeolithic reference sequence, UNESCO 1393. Neanderthal–early modern human overlap evidence, fire use.
Why it mattersLevantine Palaeolithic type-site; Yabrudian–Mousterian transition and Neanderthal火.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Yabrudian industry Neanderthal vs pre-Neanderthal?
Theories
- 01Carmel microrefugium model
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 karst cave occupied c.500,000 BP
- Period
- Lower to Middle Palaeolithic (c.500,000–40,000 BP)
- Culture
- Acheuleo-Yabrudian → Mousterian (Neanderthal)
- Builders
- Archaic hominins → Neanderthals
- Purpose
- Long-term residential cave with fire, lithic workshop and burial
- Abandoned
- c.40,000 BP Upper Palaeolithic shift to nearby sites
- Rediscovered
- 1929 Garrod survey
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.500,000 BP
Lower Palaeolithic occupation begins (Layer G)
c.120,000 BP
Neanderthal Tabun I burial
1929–34
Garrod excavations define Levantine Palaeolithic
On the ground
Structures & features
32.6690° N · 34.9593° E · 45 m · 3 mapped features
Tabun Cave — Layer C Neanderthal burial
burialTabun I Neanderthal skeleton, Layer C
32.6691° N · 34.9593° ETabun Cave — Yabrudian hearth
hearth400 ka Yabrudian Layer E hearth with blades
32.6690° N · 34.9594° ETabun Cave — Upper Mousterian workshop
workshopMousterian lithic floor, Layer B
32.6689° N · 34.9592° E
Gallery