Sealed Cave Near Fureidis Reveals Rare Acheulo-Yabrudian Artifacts

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the University of Haifa began excavating a limestone cave near the town of Fureidis, south of Haifa, after a planned road extension by the Ayalon Highways Company required a salvage dig. The cave’s roof collapsed and sealed the interior for roughly 400,000–250,000 years, preserving a layer of stone tools and animal bones. The dig is led by Dr. Kobi Vardi, head of the IAA Prehistory Branch and co-director of the project.

Times of Israel

Excavators recovered about one hundred side scrapers, several sharp handaxes and numerous blades, all typical of the Acheulo-Yabrudian toolkit. Animal remains include fallow deer, gazelle, ancient horses and wild cattle, each bearing cut marks that indicate hunting and meat processing but no signs of burning or hearths. The site is one of only ten known Acheulo-Yabrudian locations in the Near East—two in Syria, one in Lebanon and six in Israel—making its undisturbed state especially valuable.

Times of Israel

The assemblage demonstrates advanced flint extraction, communal tool production and diversified hunting strategies that predate the emergence of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. As Prof. Ron Shimelmitz notes, the gradual physiological, technological and social changes evident in these materials foreshadow traits that later defined both Neanderthal and modern human behavior, offering a rare window into a pivotal transitional phase.

Times of Israel

The IAA highlighted the rarity of well-preserved Acheulo-Yabrudian sites and confirmed that the road will be rerouted via a bridge to safeguard the cave. Dr. Vardi called the find “the beginning” of a deeper investigation into this poorly understood cultural transition.

Times of Israel

No human skeletal remains have been recovered, and the absence of fire-related features leaves open questions about cooking practices. Researchers hope future layers may yield human bones that could identify the hominid species present.

Times of Israel

• “This is probably the last culture of a very long continuum [of cultures],” — Dr. Kobi Vardi, IAA Prehistory Branch

Times of Israel

• “The original roof of the cave disintegrated and crashed down, and the site was covered by very large boulders, in addition to soil and dense vegetation,” — Dr. Kobi Vardi

Times of Israel

• “It’s very rare to find 300,000-year-old bones in such good condition,” — Dr. Kobi Vardi

Times of Israel

• “The gradual changes that emerged during this period in human physiology, technology, and society foreshadowed the traits and complex behavioral patterns that developed later and characterize both Neanderthals and modern humans,” — Prof. Ron Shimelmitz, University of Haifa

Times of Israel

The IAA will resume extensive excavation after the bridge is completed, aiming to locate human remains and further document the site’s stratigraphy.

Times of Israel