Discovered Deeper in a Cave Lies a Presumed 35,000-Year-Old Ancient Ritual Location from the Stone Age
A distinctive stone in the darkest depths of a northern Israeli cave, known as Manot Cave, hints at potential communal gatherings around 35,000 years ago, as suggested by a team of researchers who studied the site.
The research team, whose findings were published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, proposes that communal events may have taken place around a large, carved boulder situated in the most secluded part of the cave.
The proposed ritual area lies in a separate part of the cave, away from the living quarters. This section of the cave features a collection of unique mineral deposits and a prominent boulder with engraved markings. The distinct shape of the carved boulder appears to represent a tortoise or turtle, the team noted.
"It may have represented a totem or spiritual figure," said Omry Barzilai, an archaeologist from the University of Haifa and the Israel Antiquities Authority, and leader of the research team, in a statement issued by Case Western Reserve University. "Its location, far removed from daily activities near the cave entrance, suggests that it was an object of veneration."
Manot Cave was discovered in 2008, during construction of condominiums near the Israel-Lebanon border. The first major discovery was made in 2015: a skull dating back approximately 55,000 years, which provided a timeline for human occupation of the cave. The team concluded that the Manot people could be closely related to the first modern humans who later settled in Europe.
The recent study expands on these findings by adding a short-lived cultural dimension to the cave's history. Neanderthals and their ancient human counterparts did not simply live in the cave, the team determined; they also brought torches and took the time to carve geometric patterns on a distinctive rock, apart from the living quarters.
The team examined five stalagmites in various parts of the cave and found one (stalagmite #1048) containing evidence of soot residue. Carbon particles in the stalagmite were dated to 36,000 years ago, with no earlier or later evidence of fire use detected. The researchers concluded that fire was introduced into the cave in the form of temporary fires or torches.
Caves often contain evidence of human habitation, as well as coexisting territories of Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans. Earlier this year, a group of scientists revised the estimated arrival date of humans in Mallorca based on a submerged rock bridge discovered in a cave on the island. In 2022, another team reported on the existence of Neanderthals and humans in the art-rich Cueva de Ardales in southern Spain.
Neanderthals are believed to have disappeared from the fossil record around 40,000 years ago. The prevailing theory is that Neanderthals did not go extinct, but were gradually absorbed genetically by modern humans (Homo sapiens). Given the more recent dating of fire use, it's unlikely that Neanderthals were responsible for lighting the chamber. However, the complexity of Neanderthals, once thought to be significantly less advanced than modern humans, means that we may yet discover their hidden rituals and beliefs in places like Manot Cave.
The team's discovery of a carved boulder with engraved markings, representing a totem or spiritual figure, suggests that the future of their society may have included advanced technological practices in spiritual ceremonies. This suggests that the use of technology in their religious practices was not limited to the mere creation of torches, but also included the engraving of symbolic artifacts.
As we look into the future of our understanding of human history, the mysteries of Manot Cave serve as a reminder that even our most ancient ancestors had a complex relationship with science and technology, which played a crucial role in their religious beliefs and communal gatherings.
