Nahal Mearot Reserve

Nahal Mearot is a nature reserve of Israel located west of Mount Carmel. It is a series of caves located along the bed of the Nahal Mearot stream. As a result of the excavations, traces of Neanderthal - Homo sapiens - and cave settlements of Natufian culture were found. In 2012, UNESCO included Nahal Mearot in the list of World Heritage Sites.

The total territorial size of the reserve reaches 54 hectares. It consists of a number of caves located in a long chain: Taboun, Jamal, Al-Wad and Skhul. Over 90 years of excavation, researchers were able to find the remains of the cultural eras of the Upper and Middle Paleolithic, such as the Acheulean, Mugarian, Mustierian, Orignac, Natufian. At the time of the latter, the transition from gathering and hunting to agriculture was made.

The first excavations began in 1927 by the British under the leadership of Dorothy Garrod and lasted six years. The next stage was between 1967 and 1971, during which the excavations were led by Israelis and French. From 1988 to today, excavations continue in the caves of Tabun and Ha Nahal.