Ras El Kelb, Archaeological cave near Beirut, Lebanon
Ras El Kelb is a prehistoric cave on the Lebanese coast north of Beirut, positioned about 5 meters (16 feet) above sea level. The cave displays multiple layers from different time periods and holds remains from early human settlements.
The cave was first inhabited by Neanderthal people around 50,000 years ago, as evidenced by a discovered tooth. Later excavations in the 1950s revealed thousands of stone tools scattered across multiple layers.
This was once home to Middle Paleolithic people who made and used stone tools for survival. The residents hunted along the coast and left behind evidence of their daily life embedded in the cave's layers.
The site sits on a steep coastal section and is best reached in good weather when waves are not too high. Wear sturdy footwear since the ground can be wet and slippery in places.
The cave was repeatedly flooded by rising sea levels over time, creating layers that show cycles of habitation and inundation. These repeated changes shaped how the deposits formed and tell a story of the changing shoreline.
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