Shuqba cave

Shuqba cave extends into the northern bank of Wadi en-Natuf with multiple chambers displaying geological formations and layered sediments. The site contains skeletal remains and tools from different prehistoric periods spanning thousands of years.

The area was occupied during the Early Stone Age before Neanderthal populations later inhabited it, and eventually early modern humans arrived. Excavations revealed connections to Natufian culture, an important phase in human community development.

The cave shows evidence of both Neanderthals and early humans who lived and worked here. These findings help us understand how people adapted and survived in this region thousands of years ago.

Access to the cave requires permission from local authorities and it sits about one kilometer south of Shuqba town in the Judaean Mountains. The best time to visit is during cooler months when mountain conditions are more comfortable.

Small crescent-shaped tools called lunates were discovered here and helped archaeologists understand how prehistoric people developed their techniques. These particular finds reveal a craftsmanship tradition that is rarely documented from this time and place.