On the southern bank of Nahal Me'arot, situating on the western slope of
Mount Carmel
, prehistoric caves were discovered along with relics. The unique aspect of the caves lays with the findings found, showing a colonist sequence stretching over 1,000,000 years, a rare phenomenon in the world.
During the reserve tour visitors may admire the Tabun (Oven) like cave, the Camel cave, displaying an exhibit of tools used during the Mousterian period. On the third cave, the "stream" cave, tunneling 90 meters down, a audiovisual display demonstrates the prehistoric man life style. Outside the cave, a model of a prehistoric skeleton illustrates the way burials were held during the Mesolithic era, over 10 thousand years ago.
Nahal Me'arot Natural Reserve displays man culture during the following periods:
The Acheulean culture (over 200-500 yeats ago), The Mo'are culture (over 100-150 thousand years ago), The Mousterian culture (over 40-100 thousand), The Natufian culture (9-12 thousand years ago) the remains of that culture were found at the caves entrance where a small settlement existed. In this era, man advances to the organized hunting and gathering, a first step towards plant and animal domestication. Also, in this era man creates artifacts such as stone and wood carvings.
During the spring, the natural reserves slope fill with the colorful bloom of flowers. Marked trails leave from the reserves parking, leading to small charming spots. On the reserve a gift shop supplies all needed literature for
Mount Carmel
and the whole of
Israel.
On Saturday from 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 instructions are held, with no extra cost to the entrance fee.
How to get there?
- On route 4 (the old
Tel-Aviv
Haifa route), 8 kilometers north of Faradise junction.
- Bus line number 921, from Tel-Aviv to
Haifa.
Credit: Israel Nature and Parks Authority