Inside the central of the three HaYonim Caves.
The HaYonim Caves are located in a limestone bluff about 250 meters above sea level, on the northern bank of Nahal Itzhar, near the western entrance of the Bet HaKerem valley in the Upper Galilee. The site was excavated by O. Bar-Yosef and E. Tchernov on behalf of the Hebrew University, starting in 1965, showing substantial occupation during the Middle Paleolithic Mousterian period, from 250,000 years ago to 100,000 years ago, and later, during the Neolithic period and the Natufian culture around 12,000 years ago. The cave hasn’t been inhabited since, although some limited ash from Byzantine to modern times was found, and these days you are more likely to see pigeons flying about, hence the name!
The Mousterian occupation of the cave left evidence of chipped stone tools and early Middle Paleolithic blade technology, as well as a series of hearths. The Natufian occupation of the cave featured circular rooms with prepared floors, with a thick midden of stone tools debris, ground stone objects, and worked bone. There were several hearths, and single graves located in abandoned rooms or outside of inhabited rooms.
The eastern HaYonim Cave - which was swarming with bats, swallows, and pigeons - is fenced off, though one can see evidence of archaeological excavation inside, but some of the adjacent caves remain open. When we visited - as it turned out the same day as a fellow blogger - some rock-climbers were scaling the cliff. The area is a nature reserve, with Har Gamal ("Camel Mountain") to the south.
The well-excavated, fenced off, eastern HaYonim Cave (and thus well inhabited by wildlife).
A panoramic shot of Nahal Itzhar.
Har Gamal ("Camel Hill") to the south of the HaYonim Caves, across the Itzhar creek.
The western-most HaYonim cave is partially collapsed, and a popular climbing spot.
The central cave of the three HaYonim caves is accessible, and spectacular.
Taking refreshment in the Ahihud forest, on the southern side of Har Gamal, after our exhertions.