Mount Carmel, Elijah's Mountain: Muhraqa, Haifa and Visiting
Fire from heaven, a little cloud rising from the sea and the hermits who gave their name to the Carmelite order: a mountain overlooking the Jezreel Valley and Haifa Bay.
Prehistory
Nahal Me'arot Caves 500,000 Years of Human Evolution on Mount Carmel
On the western slope of Mount Carmel, four caves in a limestone cliff hold at least 500,000 years of human history, from Neanderthals to Natufian villages.
- Where : Western slope of Mount Carmel
- Duration : About 1 hr 30 min
- Access : Entrance fee, booking recommended
Essentials
The Nahal Me'arot Caves (Wadi el-Mughara, "the valley of the caves") open into a limestone cliff on the western slope of Mount Carmel, above the coastal plain. Four caves, Tabun, Jamal, el-Wad and Skhul, preserve at least 500,000 years of human evolution. The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012.
The nature reserve is visited on foot, along a short trail linking three of the caves. It is a key stop in our overview of prehistoric sites in Israel.
In brief
- Why go
- According to UNESCO, the only site where Neanderthals and early modern humans appear within the same Mousterian culture.
- What you'll see
- The Tabun, Jamal and el-Wad caves, the reconstruction of a Natufian burial and the audiovisual show.
- Check before you go
- Entrance fee, booking recommended; last entry one hour before closing. Sloping trails and steps.
History
Archaeology
500,000 Years of Human Evolution in Four Caves
According to UNESCO, the deposits in the caves span at least 500,000 years. Three major cultures follow one another:
- Acheulean — at least 500,000 years before present: the oldest levels.
- Mousterian — about 250,000 to 45,000 years before present: Neanderthals and early modern humans.
- Natufian — about 15,000 to 11,500 years before present: villages and burials.
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens side by side
Tabun Cave has yielded Neanderthal remains. Skhul Cave has yielded Homo sapiens, dated to about 90,000 years ago according to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Both groups are associated with the same Mousterian culture. For UNESCO, this is the only site that shows them together within that culture.
The Natufians of el-Wad
Much later, el-Wad Cave was occupied by Natufians. Traces of villages and burials have been found there.
Sources: UNESCO, Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel · Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve
History
From Dorothy Garrod's Excavations to UNESCO
The caves were excavated from the late 1920s onwards by the prehistorian Dorothy Garrod.
Tabun: 20 metres of deposits
Tabun Cave holds about 20 m of deposits built up over time. Archaeologists from the University of Haifa are still digging there today. At the entrance you can see the excavation section, its ladders and its measuring grid.
El-Wad: a 70-metre passage
El-Wad Cave runs 70 m into the rock. According to the Parks Authority, it was occupied in the Aurignacian, about 40,000 to 20,000 years ago, and later by the Natufians.
From nature reserve to World Heritage
The valley became a nature reserve in 1971. In 2012, UNESCO inscribed the "Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel: The Nahal Me'arot / Wadi el-Mughara Caves" on the World Heritage List, under criteria (iii) and (v). The property covers 54 hectares.
Sources: Israel Nature and Parks Authority · UNESCO, property no. 1393
Plan my visit
Nahal Me'arot Caves: planning your visit
- Visit length
- About 1 hour 30 minutes for the Prehistoric Man trail and its three caves.
- Getting there
- Via Route 4, 8 km north of Fureidis Junction. Coming from the north there is no left turn: continue to Geva Carmel and turn back (Israel Nature and Parks Authority).
- Opening hours
- According to the Authority; check before you go. Summer: Sunday to Thursday and Saturday 8 am – 5 pm, Friday and holiday eves 8 am – 4 pm. Winter: Sunday to Thursday and Saturday 8 am – 4 pm, Friday and holiday eves 8 am – 3 pm. Last entry one hour before closing.
- Admission
- Entrance fee; booking recommended with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
- Facilities
- Car park, snack bar, shop, toilets.
- Accessibility
- The trails slope and include steps: check with the reserve before visiting in a wheelchair.
Getting there & GPS
Nahal Me'arot Caves
Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve, Route 4, 8 km north of Fureidis Junction, western slope of Mount Carmel
GPS coordinates : 32.6686, 34.9681 (reference point, not the exact entrance)
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Visiting the Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve
The trails
The "Prehistoric Man" trail links the Tabun, Jamal and el-Wad caves. Jamal Cave houses exhibitions. In el-Wad Cave you will find the reconstruction of a burial and an audiovisual show. A short trail leads to Skhul Cave. To make a longer visit, the reserve also offers a botanical trail (blue markings) and a circular geological trail.
Practical points
The reserve is run by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. There is an entrance fee and booking is recommended. On site: car park, snack bar, shop and toilets. The trails slope and include steps.
Not to be confused with Muhraqa
The Muhraqa monastery, the traditional site of Elijah's sacrifice, is about 11 km away. These are two separate visits, which can be combined in one day with Caesarea Maritima. For Elijah and the rest of the range, see our page on Mount Carmel.
Source: Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve
Suggested itineraries
- Coast and Carmel in one day
- Caesarea Maritima → Nahal Me'arot Caves → Muhraqa
Around the site
Nahal Me'arot Caves and its surroundings
Go further
Caesarea Maritima, Herod's city: theatre, aqueduct and visit
Herod's great harbour and the seat of the Roman governors, where Peter baptised Cornelius and Paul was held for two years: an archaeological park on the Mediterranean shore.
Nahal Amud: The Valley of the Galilee Neanderthals
Above the stream that runs down to the Sea of Galilee, a cave yielded Neanderthal skeletons. You can hike the valley, but you may not climb up to the cave.
PrehistoryPrehistory in Israel: From the First Humans to the First VillagesFour prehistoric sites to visit in Israel and five more closed to the public: over a million years of human history, from Mount Carmel to the Jordan.Read the article → Frequently asked questions
Where are the Nahal Me'arot Caves?
On the western slope of Mount Carmel, above the coastal plain. Access is via Route 4, 8 km north of Fureidis Junction. Coming from the north, continue to Geva Carmel and turn back.
What has been found in the caves?
At least 500,000 years of human evolution, according to UNESCO: Neanderthal remains at Tabun, <em>Homo sapiens</em> at Skhul (about 90,000 years old according to the Parks Authority), then Natufian villages and burials at el-Wad.
What can you see on a visit?
The Prehistoric Man trail passes Tabun, Jamal (exhibitions) and el-Wad (reconstruction of a burial and an audiovisual show). A short trail leads to Skhul; a botanical trail and a geological trail complete the visit.
How long should I allow?
About 1 hour 30 minutes. There is an entrance fee, booking is recommended and last entry is one hour before closing: check the hours with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority before you go.
Is this where Elijah's sacrifice took place?
No. Tradition places Elijah's sacrifice at Muhraqa, about 11 km away: that is a separate visit. The caves document prehistory and cannot identify the figures of Genesis (see <a href="/en/origines#creation-eden">the stories of the beginnings</a>).