The Cave of Israel may have been the site of a ritual gathering of early humans some 35,000 years ago, making it perhaps the earliest ritual site in Southwest Asia. A multidisciplinary research team has discovered evidence of rituals at Manot Cave, a famous excavation site in Israel’s Galilee.
This cave is most notable for its discovery. 55,000 year old humanoid skull By the team at Case Western Conservancy. The skull helped provide evidence of homo sapiens Interbreeded with Neanderthals.
The cave became a refuge homo sapiens And for thousands of years, Neanderthals Research results published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, It may help you understand more about their social interactions.
spiritual person
(Credit Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority) In the crevice of the cave was a rock carved in the shape of a turtle. The carving took place about 35-37,000 years ago.
According to research, The cave dwellers lived near the entrance of the cave. However, this ceremonial chamber was located even deeper within the cave, about eight floors below the entrance. Inside the room was a carved rock that looked like a tortoise shell, and it looked like it had been intentionally placed in the crevice. The carvings resembled the oldest cave paintings in France.
“It could have represented a totem or a spiritual figure,” said Omri Barzilai, director and team leader of the Material Culture Paleo Lab at the University of Haifa and the Israel Antiquities Authority. in a press release. “The special location near the cave entrance, away from everyday life, suggests that it was an object of worship.”
The room was large and could accommodate a large number of people comfortably. The natural acoustics make it perfect for gatherings. Researchers also found traces of wood ash in the stalagmites, indicating that the cave’s inhabitants used torches to illuminate the rooms.
read more: 5 of the world’s most fascinating cave paintings
caves tell stories
Caves have been a natural refuge for our ancient ancestors for thousands of years. Fortunately, these caves also preserved the artifacts left behind.
Some notable discoveries include the Lascaux Cave Paintings in France, which are 20,000 years old, and the cave paintings which are 51,000 years old. human and pig figures A 64,000-year-old handprint in Indonesia’s Maltravieso Cave that researchers believe was drawn by Neanderthals. The inhabitants of Manot Cave were not the only ancient people who used caves for various rituals.
It is not yet known what rituals were performed in this particular room, but there is evidence that cultures such as the Maya used the cave for rituals such as human sacrifice.
ancient bone identification
During an apartment excavation project in 2008, workers accidentally discovered Manot Cave. In 2012, Case Western Conservancy dental students began assisting the archeology team because of their ability to identify bones from rocks. This made them valuable assets and led to the discovery of the skull in 2015.
“Most people would not think that the School of Dentistry is involved in archaeological excavations,” Mark Hans, professor and chair of the School of Orthodontics, said in a press release. “But one of the things that is very well preserved in ancient skeletons are teeth, because teeth are harder than bone. There’s a whole field called dental anthropology. I’m interested in growth and development, and it turns out that’s exactly what I need to identify anthropological specimens.”
There is still much to learn from Manot Cave and the people who lived there. This new discovery is just the next step in understanding our ancient ancestors.
read more: Uncover the mysterious Mayan cave rituals
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Before joining Discover Magazine, University of California, Whitewater alumna Monica Cull wrote for several organizations, including one focused on bees and the natural world. Her current work can also be found on her travel blog and in Common State Magazine. Her love of science began as a child watching PBS shows with her mother and spending too much time bingeing Doctor Who.
