Raqefet Cave
Late Natufian archaeological site in Israel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raqefet Cave (Cyclamen Cave) is a Late Natufian archaeological site located in Mount Carmel in the north of Israel.[1]
Raqefet Cave entrance | |
  Raqefet Cave Location in Israel  Raqefet Cave Raqefet Cave (Israel) | |
| Location | Upper Galilee |
|---|---|
| Region | Israel |
| History | |
| Periods | Middle Paleolithic |
| Cultures | Mousterian, Levantine Aurignacian, Natufian |
History
Raqefet Cave was discovered in 1956. The site indicates plants were already used as food here before the advent of agriculture.[1]
Remains in one of the chambers of the cave suggest the production of beer during the occupation of the cave.[2][3] The earliest archaeological evidence of fermentation consists of 13,000-year-old residues of a beer with the consistency of gruel, used by the semi-nomadic Natufians for ritual feasting, at the Raqefet Cave.[4][5]
Earlier levels at Raqefet include remains from the Levantine Aurignacian.[6] Earlier Mousterian remains were also found at Site 187.[7]
In 2020, incised slabs were discovered at Raqefet Cave, with a human figure most likely shown as dancing.[8]
Gallery
Human remains
Rock mortars used to prepare malt for beer manufacture
Raqefet Cave rock mortars.
View of the valley from inside the cave
