Posted on 05/22/2008 1:57:45 PM PDT by blam
Prehistoric cave uncovered in Western Galilee
22 May 2008
A stalactite cave containing prehistoric remains was exposed in the Western Galilee. Among the artifacts found are flint implements and the bones of animals that have long since become extinct from the country’s landscape
The stalactite cave uncovered in Western Galilee (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority)
(Communicated by the Israel Antiquities Authority Spokesman)
While carrying out development work connected with the construction of a sewage line in a forest of the Jewish National Fund, a large stalactite cave was accidentally breached inside of which an abundance of prehistoric artifacts were discovered.
Immediately upon exposing the cave personnel were summoned there from the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Center for Cave Exploration and the Western Galilee Rescue Unit.
According to Dr. Ofer Marder, head of the Prehistory Branch of the Israel Antiquities Authority who examined the cave, “It seems that during the past 40-50 years no cave has been found with such a wealth of prehistoric finds and certainly not inside such a lovely stalactite cave. The cave includes a number of chambers, of which the main chamber measures c. 60 x 80 meters. Inside it is a soil accumulation that contains numerous flint tools that were knapped by man and a variety of zoological remains of animals that are no longer present in our country’s landscape such as the red deer, fallow deer, buffalo and even the remains of bears”.
The cave is being researched by the Israel Antiquities Authority, in cooperation with the Jewish National Fund and the Center for Cave Exploration. The initial impression of those who first examined the cave is that it seems to date to the Upper Paleolithic period (40,000-20,000 YBP); however, it is possible that the cave was also used in earlier periods and a final determination with regards to this can only be made following a thorough study of it.
At this point the cave is sealed and access to it is not possible. The Israel Antiquities Authority is inspecting the special finds that were discovered there and at a later stage a study will be required to examine the animal population, climate and geology of the region during the periods when the cave was being used. The cave will also be dated by means of advanced scientific methods that will provide researchers with an absolute chronological range.
GGG Ping.
-PJ
prehistoric? Since all periods of history are covered in human writing, the word itself is fallacious. This is an old cave I don’t doubt, but it isn’t prehistoric.
Artifacts stolen from the Muslims no doubt. :)
At that age it is possible to have Neanderthal remains as well. Double cool!
Could you clarify that? As "writing" first appears no sooner than about 10,000-8,000 years ago, I'd regard these finds as "prehistoric" if the 40,000-20,000 ybp figure holds.
for later
Wow, a four year hiatus, and you come back with such an uniformed statement.... Congratulations!
Really?
And just how old do you suppose the world is?
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I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to build in places like Israel and Rome, where so much history has occurred. Every hole you dig for construction is bound to come up with some sort of antiquity.
Before you embarrass the rest of us by making more such dumb@$$ statements, look up the definitions of history and prehistory.
Hint: "prehistoric" also "prehistorical" adj. Of, relating to, or belonging to the era before recorded (written) history.
IOW, where are the written records (history) of the people who made and hunted with projectile points like this?
Original or replica?
I tool nock rocking in grad school ("Lithic Technology" -- otherwise called elementary finger-bleeding), but never reached that level of skill!
I've been knocking rocks since the 70's. when I had the privilege of sitting at the tarp alongside the likes of J.B. Sollberger. FWIW, I have little respect for the typological opinions of so-called prehistoric archaeologists who have never broken rock...
At my peak, I approached the level of skill required to make that obsidian Clovis. Nowadays, however, my hand-eye coordination has degraded to the point that it's almost a waste of time for me to do careful platform preparation -- because my billet is likely to hit somewhere else entirely... :-(
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