Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Official name | Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el‑Mughara Caves |
| Location | Mount Carmel, Israel |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (v) |
| Reference | 1393 |
| Inscription | 2012 (36th Session) |
| Area | 54 ha (130 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 370 ha (910 acres) |
| Coordinates | 32°40′12″N 34°57′55″E / 32.67000°N 34.96528°ECoordinates: 32°40′12″N 34°57′55″E / 32.67000°N 34.96528°E |
  Location of Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve in Near East | |
The Caves of Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara ("Caves Creek"), named here by the Hebrew and Arabic name of the valley where they are located, are a UNESCO Site of Human Evolution in the Carmel mountain range near Haifa in northern Israel.[1][2]
The four UNESCO-listed caves are:
- Tabun or Tanur cave (lit.: "Oven")
- Gamal or el-Jamal cave ("Camel")
- El Wad or Nahal cave ("Stream")
- Skhul or Gedi cave ("Kid")
The four caves were proclaimed a site of "outstanding universal value" by UNESCO[1] in 2012. They are protected within a nature reserve.[2]
The caves were used for habitation by hominins and prehistoric humans and contain unique evidence of very early burials, at the archaeological site of el-Wad cave in the Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve.
Gallery[]
A Paleolithic reconstitution in Jamal Cave
Paleolithic tools in Jamal Cave (replica)
Entrance to el‑Wad Cave
Inside el‑Wad Cave
Excavation work in el‑Wad Cave's terrace
El‑Wad point microlith
Flint stone points, Boqer Tahtit Cave (Ein Avdat) and el‑Wad Cave, 50000 – 28000 BP (Israel Museum)
Homo neandertalensis fossil from Tabun C1 (replica). 120000 – 50000 BP (Israel Museum)
See also[]
- List of World Heritage Sites in Israel and Jerusalem
- National parks and nature reserves of Israel
- Skhul and Qafzeh hominins
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b [1] UNESCO website
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve". Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nahal Mearot. |
- Official page at Israel Nature and Parks Authority website
- UNESCO: Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me’arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves
- Nahal Me'arot recognized as World Heritage Site
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- World Heritage Sites in Israel
- Nature reserves in Israel
- Prehistoric sites in Israel
- Protected areas of Haifa District
- Caves of Israel