In the Menot Cave in the Western Galilee, the first evidence in the Levant (and the first in the world) of public worship in caves and the development of religious rituals was discovered * The researchers: the ritual complex in Menot Cave symbolizes the transition from random worship to the beginning of institutionalized public worship
Groundbreaking research by the universities of Haifa, Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion in the Negev: a rare prehistoric ritual complex discovered in the Menot Cave in the Western Galilee provides a rare glimpse into the spiritual world of prehistoric man and, according to the researchers, constitutes the first evidence in the Levant region (and the first in the world) of the existence of communal religious ceremonies among prehistoric groups of hunters and gatherers. The researchers explain that the impressive and unique find - an engraved rock in the shape of a turtle shell and naturally demarcated by impressive sentinels - is found deep inside the cave and is estimated to be about 35,000 years old and belongs to the Paleolithic period.
The worldwide discovery was led by Dr. Omri Barzilai from the School of Archeology and Maritime Cultures at Haifa University and the Antiquities Authority, Prof. Ofer Marder from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Prof. Israel Hershkowitz from the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. The research was published in the prestigious journal PNAS. Dr. Barzilai: "The rare discovery allows a glimpse into the spiritual world of the Paleolithic hunter groups that lived in our region about 35 years ago. The cone-shaped rock was deliberately placed inside a niche in the deepest and darkest part of the cave. The special location, away from the living area at the entrance of the cave, indicates that it functioned as an object of worship. The design of the turtle shell by engravings on a XNUMXD object implies that this item is meant to represent a totem or some mythological/spiritual figure. Findings of this type are known in prehistoric caves in Western Europe and were of symbolic importance and were a focus for public worship and community activity."
Menot Cave has been thoroughly excavated since 2010 by the Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion University. The cave is known mainly for the beautiful stalactites that decorate its interior spaces and for many archaeological remains from several prehistoric cultures from the Upper and Middle Paleolithic periods. One of the known findings is a 55-year-old skull of a modern man, which is the oldest fossil outside of the African continent of a modern man.
During the excavations, the researchers were surprised to discover ash remains in one of the rings of a sentry found near the engraved rock that confirm the use of fire to illuminate the ritual space, apparently by torches. Acoustic tests revealed that the complex was endowed with enhanced natural acoustics that could infuse sonic experiences for a large audience in joint activities such as prayer, singing and dancing.
Prof. Hershkowitz: "This is an unprecedented discovery of a special space with 'sonic light' equipment, in the center of which a ritual object (a turtle) was placed, and in fact constitutes the first evidence of community rituals in the Levant. It is not surprising that the prehistoric hunters chose to hold their worship in the darkest space of Menot Cave , since darkness holds a sacred and hidden quality, it symbolizes rebirth and the establishment of Ritual centers in the Upper Paleolithic are a key element in the development and institutionalization of collective identity, a necessary step in the transition from small and isolated hunter-gatherer groups built on blood ties between individuals to large and complex societies."
The researchers explain that the chronological age of the ceremony complex in Menot Cave dates back to 37,000-35,000 years before our time - a period of time associated with the sudden appearance of the Orania culture, a culture known from Europe and characterized by the design of symbolic objects and cave paintings. Prof. Ofer Marder from Ben Gurion University said: "During our excavations in Menot Cave, we uncovered at the front of the cave archaeological layers rich in Oranakiian artifacts that included flint vessels, bone and horn vessels, and shell beads."
In a small and hidden hall adjacent to the south of the ritual complex, a complete deer antler with signs of use was discovered. "The antlers were used as a raw material to design tools for various purposes by the cultures of the Upper Paleolithic period in Europe, including the Ourania culture in the Levant. The location of the stag antler in a hidden hall adjacent to the ritual complex seems to be related to the ritual activities in the cave," Dr. Barzilai explained.
The geometric engravings found on the turtle shell-like rock were scanned with a unique confocal microscope that allows viewing extremely thin horizontal sections. "We identified fine micro-linear scratches inside some of the grooves, which undoubtedly confirms that the engravings are made by human hands. These engravings are evidence of the artistic skills of our ancestors and their deep connection to rituals and symbols," said Prof. Rachel Sharig from the dental laboratory at Tel Aviv University, who performed the scans.
The researchers also carried out a 3D photographic mapping of the cave. "We found that a clear separation was made between the ritual complex and the areas of normal (daily) activity at the front of the cave. This fact strengthens the hypothesis regarding the importance of the complex and the need to separate it from the complex where daily activity took place," said Alexander Wiegman from the Antiquities Authority.
The researchers conclude that the discovery of the ritual complex in Menot Cave sheds new light on the spiritual life of the Upper Paleolithic period in the Levant. "The current research enriches our knowledge regarding prehistoric man, his world of symbols and the nature of the worship that connected the ancient communities together. The identification of community rituals in the Paleolithic era is a breakthrough in our understanding of human society and offers more than a glimpse of ancient ritual activities. The research reveals the central role of worship and symbols in forming the collective identity and strengthening social ties".
The Menot Cave project is supported by the Dan David Foundation, the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel-USA Binational Foundation, the Irene Levy Sella Foundation and the Leakey Foundation. Researchers from the Antiquities Authority, the University of Cleveland, the Geological Survey of Israel, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the University of Haifa, Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University, the University of Vienna, the University of Barcelona, the University of Siena and Simon Fraser University participated in the study.
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