Sefunim Cave
מערת ספונים · Sefunim (Iraq el-Barud) · Mikhmoret Cave
Upper Palaeolithic to Natufian (c.35,000–11,000 BP)·Levantine Aurignacian/Ahmarian → Kebaran → Natufian·🇮🇱 Haifa District, Mount Carmel north, Nahal Sefunim, Israel
About
About Sefunim Cave
Small Carmel karst cave-roof shelter, 4 m deposits, Upper Palaeolithic–Natufian (c.35,000–11,000 BP) with Kebaran, Geometric Kebaran, Early Natufian microliths, bone tools and burials. Excavated 1965–72 Ronen, 2004 Shimelmitz shows microblade, backed lunates, hum polished shell beads. Upper Palaeolithic Levantine Aurignacian (Ahmarian) → Natufian transition site complementing Tabun's lower levels; sea snails and ostrich egg use.
Why it mattersCarmel UP–Natufian microlithic transition; complementar to Tabun/Kebara.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Kebaran–Natufian continuity?
Theories
- 01Microblade regional adaptation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural cave occupied c.35,000 BP
- Period
- Upper Palaeolithic to Natufian (c.35,000–11,000 BP)
- Culture
- Levantine Aurignacian/Ahmarian → Kebaran → Natufian
- Builders
- Modern human hunter-gatherers
- Purpose
- Seasonal shelter, lithic and bead workshop, burial
- Abandoned
- c.11,000 BP early Holocene
- Rediscovered
- 1965 Ronen
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.35,000 BP
Aurignacian occupation
c.18,000 BP
Geometric Kebaran lunates
c.13,000 BP
Early Natufian burial
On the ground
Structures & features
32.7200° N · 35.0200° E · 120 m · 3 mapped features
Sefunim Cave — Natufian burial
burialFlexed burial with Dentalium beads
32.7205° N · 35.0200° ESefunim Cave — Geometric Kebaran floor
workshopLunate microlith cluster, layer III
32.7200° N · 35.0205° ESefunim Cave — Ahmarian blade cache
cacheLevantine Aurignacian blade layer, base
32.7195° N · 35.0195° E