Western Galilee Research Articles

The use of carinated items in the Levantine Aurignacian-Insights from layer D, Hayonim Cave, W. Galilee, Israel.

A longstanding debate concerns the function of carinated elements in both, the Levantine, and European Aurignacian. The present study aims to contribute to this topic with the evaluation of the carinated assemblage from layer D in Hayonim Cave, Western Galilee, Israel, one of the type sites of the Levantine Aurignacian. An operational chain reconstruction with an attribute analysis is paired with a typological approach to the preparation and maintenance products based on artefacts defined as West European Aurignacian. The results of this study are investigated with multivariate statistics offering a methodological contribution. The data is subjected to a transformation into a distance matrix using the Gower distance and tested with the adonis-algorithm for significance. The results clearly indicate that the carinated items in Hayonim Cave did fully or partially function as cores. They are accompanied by diagnostic preparation- and- maintenance products known from the literature e.g. Thèmes bladelets. The statistical analysis indicates only a minor correlation with stratigraphy yet supports the techno-typological criteria applied for defining artefact categories (cores, debitage, tools), as well as the proposed differentiation of carinated 'core' types. The non-carinated cores in Hayonim Cave are characterised by a high variability in typology and reduction concepts. A curious similarity to the Levallois-concept is observed on some of the flake cores. It is therefore suggested that the frequent recycling of Middle Palaeolithic artefacts in the Levantine Aurignacian might have given the Aurignacian flint-knappers the opportunity to study the Levallois concept and apply an approximation of it in their own core reduction strategies. The notion that Palaeolithic flint-knappers actively observed former technological systems through the discarded artefacts directly opens up a new trajectory for the understanding of lithic reduction concept permanence. The conceptual diversification and variability in Hayonim Cave D indicate a highly dynamic period in the Levantine Upper Palaeolithic which increased the adaptive potential and promoted a rapid cultural change.

Cultural Dynamics in the Levantine Upper Paleolithic, ca. 40–33 ky BP: Insights Based on Recent Advances in the Study of the Levantine Aurignacian, the Arkov-Divshon, and the Atlitian

The chrono-cultural sequence of the Levantine Upper Paleolithic went through several major revisions during approximately a century of focused research, each revision contributing to shedding light on the mosaic of cultural entities and the complex social and cultural dynamics composing the Levantine Upper Paleolithic. The current state of research suggests the co-inhabitance of two cultural groups: the Early Ahmarian and the Levantine Aurignacian. Two other cultural entities, the Arkov-Divshon and the Atlitian, are regarded as younger manifestations and were tentatively suggested to relate to the Levantine Aurignacian. This paper presents a research synthesis of two case studies: Manot Cave, located in western Galilee, Israel, and Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter in the Judean Desert. The application of high-resolution excavation methods, alongside detailed documentation of the stratigraphy and site-formation processes and wide-scale radiocarbon-based absolute dating, marked these sites as ideal for chrono-cultural study through the analyses of flint industries. The results indicate a clear distinction between the Levantine Aurignacian and the Arkov-Divshon/Atlitian industries and a chronological overlap between the Arkov-Divshon, Levantine Aurignacian, and possibly with the Early Ahmarian. Subsequently, we suggest another revision of the currently accepted chrono-cultural model: not two, but at least three cultural entities co-inhabited the Levant at ca. 40–30 ky cal BP. This study further suggests an evolvement of the Atlitian flint industries from the Arkov-Divshon and stresses the foreign cultural features of the Levantine Aurignacian. These results were used to construct an updated model of migration and possible interaction patterns.

Healthcare utilization is increased in children living in urban areas, with ethnicity-related disparities: A big data analysis study.

This study aimed to investigate differences in pediatric healthcare utilization in Israel over 10 years by examining differences across populations defined by living environment and ethnicity. Data was obtained from the Clalit Health Care data warehouse, covering over 250,000 children residing in Haifa and Western Galilee districts. The population groups were categorized based on ethnicity (Jewish vs Arab) and residential settings (urban vs rural). Healthcare utilization was consistently higher among Jewish than Arab children, irrespective of the specific dimension analyzed. Additionally, urban-dwelling children exhibited higher usage rates than those residing in rural areas in all investigated dimensions. However, Jewish children showed significantly about 18% lower hospitalization rates than Arab children across all years (P < 0.001). No significant differences in hospitalizations were observed between urban and rural children (RR 0.999, CI (0.987-1.011)). Notably, the study revealed reduced antibiotic consumption and hospitalizations over the years for all populations. Additionally, we found that Arab children and those living in rural areas had reduced access to healthcare, as evidenced by 10-40% fewer physician visits, laboratory tests, and imaging (P < 0.001). Conclusion:This study highlights the substantial population-based disparities in healthcare utilization among children in Israel despite the equalizing effect of the national health insurance law. Rural and low socioeconomic populations seem to have reduced healthcare access, showing decreased healthcare utilization. Consequently, it is imperative to address these disparities and implement targeted interventions to enhance healthcare access for Arab children and rural communities. The decline in antibiotic usage and hospitalizations suggests positive trends in pediatric health care, necessitating ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access and quality of care for all populations. What is Known: • Healthcare systems worldwide vary in coverage and accessibility, including Israel, which stands out for its diverse population. • Existing research primarily focuses on healthcare utilization among adults, leaving a need for comprehensive data on children's healthcare patterns globally. What is New: • Investigating over 250,000 children, this study reveals higher healthcare utilization among Jewish and urban children across all dimensions. • Despite Israel's national health insurance law, the study underscores the significant population-based disparities in healthcare utilization.

The Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B Site of Aḥihud (Western Galilee, Israel)

Abstract. The recent excavations at the site of Aḥihud uncovered the remains of an Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B village on the bank of Nahal Ḥilazon (Acre valley, Israel) tributary channel. The site is in an ecotone between the western Galilee hills and the northern coastal plain. The lithic assemblage from the site includes typical PPNB arrowheads (about a third are El-Khiam and Helwan types) as well as hundreds of sickle blades. The fauna include evidence to the hunting of large and small game as well as small predators. The flora from the site shows evidence for an intensive legume crop agriculture. Thousands of legume seeds were concentrated in two silos. The vast majority are broad beans (Vicia faba) that predate the earliest evidence for an established cultivation of legumes in the Southern Levant. Other finds attest to the acquisition of exotic goods such as various green stones and obsidian from the Northern Levant or shells from the Red Sea.

Holocaust Emotion Cards: Project Presentation

The purpose of this article is to present the project Holocaust Emotion Cards, which was created as part of the course Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Holocaust Memory, run by Western Galilee College. In the first part of the presentation, we will present the assumptions and concepts of the project, as well as the process of creating the cards. In the second part, we will discuss the cards themselves and the way to use them in educational work.

Immigration, Ideology, and Public Activity from an American Jewish Perspective: A Journey Across Three Continents by Zohar Segev (review)

Reviewed by: Immigration, Ideology, and Public Activity from an American Jewish Perspective: A Journey Across Three Continents by Zohar Segev Michael Keren (bio) Immigration, Ideology, and Public Activity from an American Jewish Perspective: A Journey Across Three Continents. By Zohar Segev. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2022. x + 233 pp. One of the hardest questions related to the Holocaust concerns the failure of Jewish organizations in the United States to persuade the American government to rescue European Jews by the bombardment of Auschwitz or by any other means. In order to understand that failure, it is useful to look at the persuasion efforts made at the time by American Jewish leaders as well as by second level officials within American Jewish organizations. Zohar Segev's book is based on the personal archives of four Europeanborn Jews who found refuge in the United States during the Second World War and held several positions in American Jewish organizations. Arieh Tartakover, an historian and sociologist who later taught at the Hebrew University, chaired the World Jewish Congress's Welfare and Relief Committee; Arieh Kubovy, later an Israeli diplomat and head of Yad Va'shem, chaired the World Jewish Congress's Rescue Committee based in New York; Benjamin Akzin, a jurist who later taught at the Hebrew University, was a consultant to the American Zionist Emergency Council in Washington; and Jacob Robinson, a lawyer and researcher, founded the Institute of Jewish Affairs, the research arm of the American Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress. The experience of individuals who operated within the American Jewish organizational network in the 1940s seems an invaluable source for an exploration of the political, administrative and cultural causes behind the successes and failures of that network to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Since the author has decided, however, that this question [End Page 418] is beyond the scope of his study, we are left with a description of activities conducted by the four men, mainly letters they wrote, which in themselves had no impact on the outcome of the war. Some of the letters are quite instructive though, if only because of the responses they elicited. Consider the responses Kubovy received to letters he wrote to Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy. In August 9, 1944, he conveyed a request from a Jewish activist in Czechoslovakia to bomb Auschwitz and the railway lines leading to it, which McCloy rejected on the grounds that such actions would require the use of significant air power and might not be effective. He also made the incredible claim that the bombardment could lead the Germans to institute even stricter measures against the Jews. When a few weeks later Kubovy sent McCloy another letter calling not for aerial bombing but for destruction of the death camp by paratroopers, the response was striking in its bureaucratic language. The assistant secretary informed Kubovy that the operations he suggested fell within the jurisdiction of the Allied Mediterranean Commander, who had been fully informed of the situation in the death camp areas. McCloy added that he was sure the theater commander "would do anything he felt he could to check these ghastly excesses of the Nazis" (87). One wonders why this dismissive response led Segev to conclude that it reflects serious consideration of the matter by government officials in Washington and American military leaders. The author is aware of the enormous frustration the four men felt as a result of the ineffectiveness of the rescue efforts they took part in. However, with some exceptions, such as Kubovy's criticism of Stephen Wise, president of the World Jewish Congress, we are given few clues as to their attitudes toward the top Jewish leadership, a matter which, once again, is claimed to be beyond the scope of this study. The book thus makes a contribution by bringing to light documents by four refugee immigrants who worked in American Jewish organizations during the 1940s and played an active role in the Zionist movement before and after the establishment of the State of Israel, but the documents are still awaiting an analysis within a broader scope. [End Page 419] Michael Keren University of Calgary and Western Galilee Academic College Michael Keren...

Molecular diagnosis of cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia

IntroductionSchizophrenia is a severe and chronic disorder causing significant disability and functional decline. Schizophrenia is a polygenic disease, with about 100 monogenic sites and 11 sites of chromosomal deletions / duplications involved in its pathogenesis identified. It is a pleiotropic disease, with causative genetic changes leading to multiple symptoms, including bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, mental retardation and epilepsy. The chromosomal microarray (CMA) technology detects submicroscopic chromosomal changes, which are involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, and are subject to prenatal diagnosis. Pathological findings in CMA are detected in 10-20% of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders and can contribute significantly to medical follow-up, prognosis assessment, influence treatment choice, and allow prenatal diagnosis. Preliminary studies in schizophrenia identified pathological CMA findings in 10–30% of patients.ObjectivesCMA testing of schizophrenia patients to detect genetic changes causing the disease.MethodsRecruitment of schizophrenia patients from the Haifa and Western Galilee districts of Clalit, genetic counseling in Carmel Hospital, CMA testing of the consenting patients.ResultsSchizophrenia patients with and without neurodevelopmental disorders underwent CMA analysis, with the findings of significant chromosomal submicroscopic disorders (such as 22q11 microdeletion, among others) in 30% of the patients, providing the explanation for the patients’ symptoms and enabling specific medical follow-up and adjusted pharmacological treatment.ConclusionsCMA can be used in diagnosing schizophrenia, assessing prognosis, adjusting pharmacological treatment and follow-up and providing genetic counseling including prenatal diagnosis, as in cases neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings support the application of CMA as part of a routine procedures in schizophrenia.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Christian burials in Western Galilee and the emergence of christian local mortuary traditions in Late Antiquity : Preliminary Considerations at the Onset of a Research Project

The goal of the research project described and discussed here is the meticulous assessment of the tombs and cemetery sections investigated in two geographically fairly restricted regions: Western Galilee and the broader area of Caesarea Philippi, both lying in the former Late Roman province of Phoenicia. With the generous support of the Israel Antiquities Authority, we were granted access to several mortuary assemblages that have remained unpublished or were only partially published. The meticulous assessment of these assemblages provides a unique opportunity for studying mortuary practices in the Eastern Mediterranean on a micro-regional level as well as for tracing changes through half a millennium at a finer resolution. We expect to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s mortuary traditions and their change as well as of local attitudes to death among the region’s pagan and pagan-turned-Christian population across half a millennium.

Cults of Deities in Caves in Israel in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods

This article engages three deities, one Greek and two Oriental, that their cults were worshipped in caves during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The first deity is a Hellenistic terracotta figurine of Aphrodite, recovered from the prehistoric cave Me‘arat ha-Nahal (Wadi el-Maghara) at the foot of Mount Carmel. It probably represents Aphrodite Pandemos (Ἀϕροδίτη Πάνδημος) or Aphrodite en Kepois (Ἀϕροδίτη ἐν Κήποις). It may be assumed that the cave, and its proximity to the city of Dor, was modified to serve as a cultic site or shrine. The second deity is represented by a sunken relief engraved on a rough rock surface adjacent to a cluster of 18 caves, known as “The Temple Cave” complex, along Keziv Stream (Nahal Keziv) in western Galilee. The largest and main cave in this complex seems to have had a cultic function in the Roman period, that is, it constituted a cultic site for a particular divinity. The sunken relief depicts a walking male military figure, dubbed “The Man in the Wall.” Based on a comparative study and the figure’s iconographic characteristics, we may identify it with Sol Invictus Mithras, a Late Roman-period deity, manifesting cultic pagan activity in a remote and isolated area, in the very heart of nature. The third deity is Ba‘al Carmel (identified with Zeus/Jupiter) who was presumably worshipped in Elijah’s Cave on the western slope of Mt. Carmel. Ba‘al Carmel’s visual representation, the depiction of a libation vessel and the presumed figure of a priest or, alternatively, an altar within an aedicula suggest it was used in the Roman period. Notably, one of the Greek inscriptions, dated to the Roman period, explicitly addresses the cave’s sacred nature and the prohibition against its profanation.

In search of modern humans and the Early Upper Paleolithic at Manot Cave: An overview

Manot Cave is a unique relict karst cave located in the western Galilee, north-western Israel. The cave was inhabited from the Late Middle Paleolithic through the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) periods until its main entrance collapsed, ca. 30 ka. The cave consists of an elongated main hall and two side chambers. The topography of the main hall consists of a steep talus inclining from the original entrance of the cave to the center, a plane area at the lowermost point of the main hall, and a smaller talus inclining from the eastern end of the cave. Nine field seasons (2010–2018) have been conducted so far at the cave. The excavations revealed dense accumulations of EUP deposits near the cave entrance (areas E and I), at the center (area D), at the base of the western talus (area C), and in the plane area (area A). This introductory article describes the cave and its characteristics and provides a background for various contributions in the special issue, devoted to Manot Cave.

Case Report: Managing a COVID-19 Nursing Home Outbreak A Physician’s Perspective

I am the medical director and sole physician at a 35-bed nursing home in Western Galilee in Israel. At the end of December 2020, the nursing home experienced a COVID outbreak in which nineteen residents were infected. Four of them were symptomatic, and two died. Ten staff members, including our administrator, likewise caught the disease, and five of them were symptomatic. All recovered. The first part of this paper will examine why, despite all our precautions, the outbreak occurred when it did, and why it spread extensively within the home. The second part will describe how the nursing home functioned after the outbreak, until its residents recovered.

The Israel National Sera Bank: Methods, Representativeness, and Challenges.

The Israel National Sera Bank (INSB) was established in 1997 in the Israel Center for Disease Control. The purpose of the INSB was to provide policymakers with data on the immunity status of the Israeli population against vaccine-preventable diseases, and on the extent and characteristics of exposure to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The aim of this paper is to describe the methods, representativeness, and challenges in maintaining the INSB. The INSB comprises residual sera collected in six laboratories. By the end of 2019, 138,898 samples had been deposited in the INSB. These include samples from four community laboratories: 30.7% from the National Blood Service, 22.2% from Haifa and the Western Galilee, 21.7% from Soroka, and 0.7% from Jerusalem; and from two medical center laboratories: 18.6% from Schneider and 6.1% from Mayanei Hayeshua. The demographic characteristics of the sample at the end of 2019 closely resembled those of the general population. The main challenges addressed in maintaining the INSB relate to its representativeness, the possibility of repeated donors, costs, stability of antibody levels after long-term storage, ethical aspects, and the data available for each sample. The INSB is a unique, powerful, and necessary tool for assessing population immunity levels, based on serum samples collected over a long period of time.

A tale of two baraitot: the Western Galilee borders of the rabbis in archaeology and texts

The purported border of Jewish settlement in the Western Galilee is identified in two separate tannaitic texts, each referring to the ̔Akko–Akhziv road. One text cites this road as the western border of Jewish settlement, while the other cites the same road as the eastern border. The border of Jewish settlement is also described in another rabbinic text, also discovered in the Reḥov synagogue excavations. This text is inconsistent with the texts referring to the ̔Akko–Akhziv road. Archaeologists give priority to the Reḥov inscription and dismiss the contradictory texts as a scribal error. Talmudic scholars validate the authenticity of the apparently contradictory texts using critical textual analysis, but leave the apparent contradictions unresolved. This article uses archaeological evidence in conjunction with a critical review of the texts to resolve the apparent contradiction, proving that the rabbinic texts authenticated by Talmudic scholars are consistent with the Reḥov inscription.

Revisited – possible remains of the 1202 earthquake in Galilee: the Frankish village of Castellum Regis/Miʿilyā

The archaeological remains in two Frankish period sites in Western Galilee prove that the 1202 earthquake, which was extensively mentioned in contemporary texts, had significant impact in Galilee. The earthquake was not specifically mentioned as affecting Western Galilee, but the archaeological remains show that it was severe–violent with high intensity, probably VIII+. The damage seems likely to have been great enough to affect the socio-economic situation of the inhabitants, which contributed to the sale of many properties to the Teutonic Order during the 1220s. The shock in Galilee seems likely to have been in a north–south axis

Shipwreck or Sunken Votives? The Shavei Zion Assemblage Revisited

The site of Shavei Zion is an enigmatic deposit of hundreds of figurines and ceramic vessels found on the sunken kurkar ridge off the coast of the western Galilee. Despite its importance to the und...

The endocast of the late Middle Paleolithic Manot 1 specimen, Western Galilee, Israel

Studying endocasts has long allowed anthropologists to examine changes in the external topography and the overall size of the brain throughout the evolutionary history of hominins. The nearly complete calvaria of Manot 1 presents an opportunity to gain insights into the external brain morphology, vascular system, and dimensions of the brain of this late Middle Paleolithic hominin. Detailed size and shape analyses of the Manot 1 endocast indicate a modern Homo sapiens anatomy, despite the presence of some primitive features of the calvaria. Traits considered to be derived endocranial features for H. sapiens are present in Manot 1, including an elongated parietal sagittal chord with an elevated superior part of the hemisphere, a widened posterior part of the frontal lobes, a considerable development of the parietal reliefs such as the supramarginal lobules, and a slight posterior projection of the occipital lobes. These findings, together with data presented in previous studies, rule out the possibility of a direct Neanderthal ancestry for the Manot 1 hominin and instead confirm its affiliation with H. sapiens. The Manot 1 calvaria is more similar to that of later Upper Paleolithic H. sapiens than it is to the earlier Levantine populations of Skhul and Qafzeh. The late Middle Paleolithic date of Manot 1 provides an opportunity to analyze the recent developments in human cerebral morphology and organization.

Preoperative direct oral anticoagulants treatment and all-cause mortality in elderly patients with hip fracture: A retrospective cohort study

IntroductionHip fracture is common among the elderly and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly when surgery is delayed. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) use might increase bleeding and postpone hip repair surgery. We aimed to assess the association between preoperative DOACs use and adverse outcomes in elderly patients with hip fracture. Materials and methodsThis retrospective cohort study included all elderly patients (≥65 years), from the district of Haifa and Western Galilee, Israel, who underwent hip repair surgery for hip fracture between 2014 and 2018. Regression models with adjustment for propensity score were used to assess the association with all-cause mortality and other adverse outcomes. ResultsA total of 3418 patients with hip fracture were included of whom 163 (4.8%) were vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) users and 247 (7.2%) were DOCAs users. Propensity score adjusted models revealed that, compared to no anticoagulants use, DOACs use were independently associated with decreased risk of 30-day and 90-day mortality; HR 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17–0.88) and 0.47 (0.27–0.82), respectively. No significant associations were detected between VKAs use and all-cause mortality, compared to no anticoagulants use. DOACs and VKAs had significantly longer waiting time for hip repair surgery, and longer stay in hospital. DOACs and VKAs users had a non-significant higher estimated intraoperative bleeding. However, only VKAs users required a significantly higher number of blood transfusions. ConclusionsAlbeit being associated with longer waiting time for surgery and longer hospitalization, DOACs use appears to be associated with reduced risk of mortality among elderly patients with hip fracture.

Acheulo-Yabrudian and Early Middle Paleolithic at Hayonim Cave (Western Galilee, Israel): Continuity or break?

The long archeological sequence exposed during our renewed excavations in Hayonim Cave sheds new light on the striking technological changes observed at the boundary between the Acheulo-Yabrudian (end of the Lower Paleolithic) and Early Middle Paleolithic in the Levant, as well as on their meaning in terms of population movements. The recent, as yet unpublished, technological studies highlight a clear technological break between these two entities. In Hayonim, the Acheulo-Yabrudian assemblages found at the bottom of the archeological sequence display the specific combination of bifacial shaping and the production of thick, often cortical, flakes frequently shaped into scrapers by Quina retouch. Neither of these lithic production systems is observed in the succeeding Levantine Middle Paleolithic assemblages. In contrast, the Early Middle Paleolithic is characterized by the expansion and diversification of the Levallois production system in its full-fledged form, the emergence of a specific Laminar technology, and a high proportion of retouched tools made on elongated blanks (points and blades). These technological features are unknown in the previous Acheulo-Yabrudian assemblages in the cave. Based on this information, we attempt to determine if the observed changes in stone tool production strategies resulted from an autochthonous development or a dispersal out of Africa.

A technotypological analysis of the Ahmarian and Levantine Aurignacian assemblages from Manot Cave (area C) and the interrelation with site formation processes

For more than a century, prehistoric research has focused on cave sites and rock shelters, mostly because of good preservation of organic remains associated with stratified anthropogenic layers. Manot Cave in the Western Galilee, Israel offers the possibility of studying prehistoric assemblages in pristine condition because of the collapse of the cave entrance some 30 thousand years ago. Nine years of excavations have uncovered an Early Upper Paleolithic archaeological sequence. Area C, situated at the bottom of the talus, was exposed to fast and slow depositional and postdepositional processes affecting sediment accumulation. The central part of area C was selected for this study, as it was least disturbed. Following a technotypological analysis, and taking postdepositional processes into consideration, the assemblages were defined and assigned to the Levantine Aurignacian, and Ahmarian traditions. The two archaeological horizons are separated by a mixed horizon within which indicative artifacts of both traditions alternately appear. The Ahmarian assemblage, dated to 46–42 ka cal BP, fits within the northern Mediterranean Ahmarian sites, which technotypologically differs from and is currently dated earlier than the southern desert region Ahmarian sites. The main technotypological characteristics of the assemblage from the Levantine Aurignacian Horizon, dated to 38–34 ka cal BP, are comparable to those from Manot Cave area E layers V-VI, and Ksâr ‘Akil levels VII-VIII. Yet, several technotypological elements seem more compatible with the unnamed assemblage from Ksâr ‘Akil levels XI-XIII and possibly layer IX from area E.

Remembering a sacred place – The depositional history of Hilazon Tachtit, a Natufian burial cave

Hilazon Tachtit Cave served as a cemetery for at least 28 individuals and an arena for interment rituals and other activities. The nature of the activities in the cave, their frequency and their recurrence over time, demonstrate that this site was an important sacred place on the Late Natufian (ca. 12,000 cal. BP) landscape of the western Galilee of Israel. Using a GIS-based approach, we examine the distribution and density of small flint chips and other microartifacts within the site to ascertain the location, timing and intensity of activities. From this, we reconstruct the depositional history and the order of burial and ritual events in the cave. We then explore the role of collective memory in the formation and continued use of the cave as a unique cemetery. Our results show that the memory of the initial burial event shaped the future use of the cave, its importance as a site for human burial and ritual performance, and its place as a sacred locale for the Late Natufian community.