An ancient ritual compound has been uncovered in the depths of a cave located in what is now northern Israel. Homo sapiens groups gathered at the cave to participate in torchlit ceremonies, likely inspired by mythological or religious beliefs, as early as around 37,000 years ago, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The discovery of this special chamber in Manot Cave reveals the earliest known evidence for collective ritual practices in the Middle East. Archaeologists estimate that up to 100 individuals could have fit in this space for ceremonies.
The ritual compound in Manot Cave bears resemblance to an even older cave chamber discovered in France. Neandertals constructed circular structures out of broken rock formations inside Bruniquel Cave about 176,500 years ago, although the exact purpose of these structures remains unclear. European Neandertals and Homo sapiens also created cave art over 40,000 years ago.
Archaeologist Paul Pettitt of Durham University suggests that activities like rituals attended by regional groups of hunter-gatherers may have taken place in caves before the decoration of cave walls. Previous excavations near Manot Cave have uncovered stone tools, butchered animal bones, and other artifacts dating back to around 46,000 to 33,000 years ago, indicating regular human occupations during the time of the collective rituals.
The ritual chamber in Manot Cave dates back to a time when artifacts in the living areas show influences from Europe’s ancient Aurignacian culture. This culture is characterized by distinctive stone tools, bone points, ivory beads and figurines, and early examples of cave art. The rituals held in the cave likely reflected the established ritual traditions of incoming Aurignacian populations from Europe.
The natural acoustics of the cave space made it an ideal location for group ceremonies. Outside the rear chamber of Manot Cave, a row of slender, natural rock formations rises from the cave floor. Inside the chamber, a round boulder with engraved lines representing a tortoise shell suggests that collective rituals may have revolved around this symbol.
Researchers estimated the age of the engraving by analyzing the decay rate of radioactive uranium in a mineral crust that had formed on the boulder. The age estimate falls between roughly 37,000 and 35,000 years ago. Additionally, a mineral layer on a deer antler found in the chamber dated to around the same time, with small human-made incisions identified on the antler.
Wood ash particles found in a rock formation inside the chamber indicate that torches were used to illuminate the space during ceremonies. No remnants of fire pits were found, suggesting that the torches provided the light for the rituals.
Overall, the discovery of the ritual compound in Manot Cave sheds light on the early collective ritual practices of Homo sapiens in the Middle East and their connections to European cultural influences.
