Hayonim cave

Hayonim cave is part of a karstic cave system located on the right bank of Nahal Yitzhar in the western Galilee. The site manifests one of the longest archaeological sequences in Israel. Two excavation projects were carried out in the 1960s and the 1990s. the earlier unearthed the remains of Natufian occupations (ca. 13 thousand years ago), including structures, burials and art objects; of an Epi-Paleolithic (Kebara) occupation; and finds from the Upper Paleolithic period (Aurignacian, around 35-30 thousand years ago) that include among others personal ornaments and unique bone and antler tools. This expedition also found that the archaeological sequence extended much futher into the past.

The remains of the Middle Paleolithic period, which were excavated mainly by the second expedition to the siteת, date to ca. 250- 130 thousand years ago. In addition to the typical stone tools and faunal remains, there are also hearths present from the earliest layers. This team also exposed over a limted area the presence of Acheulo-Yabrudian assemblages, inlcuding bifacial tools and typical scrapers, from the end of the Lower Paleolithic. At Hayonim these sediments are not dated. Elesewhere in Israel they date 400-280/250 thousand years ago. Bedrock has not been reached in any of the excavation areas, so even earlier deposits may await in the cave. 

Only a small number of other Levantine sites contain stratigraphic sequences that encompass the Lower to Middle Paleolithic transition. This is a crucial period in the evolutionary story of humanity, with the first emergence globally of many cultural and biological innovations (including possibly the first member of our species). It is these layers that are the focus of the new excavation project that started at the summer of 2022 by Prof. Erella Hovers.