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400,000-Year-Old Cave Near Fureidis Rewrites Regional Prehistory

Well-preserved tools, animal bones, repeated hearths suggest the site will offer a rare window into Acheulo-Yabrudian lifeways for multi-year study.

Overview

  • Archaeologists surveying land planned for construction on the outskirts of Fureidis uncovered a sealed cave whose sediments preserved artifacts and bones.
  • Excavators recovered flint hand axes, scrapers and blades that match the Acheulo-Yabrudian cultural complex and led researchers to revise the site's age to about 400,000–250,000 years ago.
  • Layers of burned material and repeated hearths, together with deer and gazelle bones, point to sustained camp life, repeated use of fire, and organized hunting by large groups.
  • The site has been physically protected from development by measures including a raised road bridge, keeping it accessible for further scientific work.
  • Teams from the Israel Antiquities Authority and the University of Haifa plan multi-year excavations and lab analyses to refine dating, reconstruct environments and search for hominin remains that could clarify who lived there.