Long before the Mediterranean Sea reached its modern shoreline, the people who lived in the Carmel caves hunted in the shallows of ancient lakes, a study by researchers at the University of Haifa, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, has revealed.
According to the findings, 15,000 years ago, the Natufian hunter-gatherers of Mount Carmel relied heavily on ducks, geese, and other waterfowl that thrived in freshwater wetlands stretching across what is now Israel’s coastal plain.
Led by Prof. Reuven Yeshurun, Dr. Linda Amos, and Prof. Mina Weinstein-Evron of the university’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology, the research analyzed hundreds of bird bones found at el-Wad Cave in the Nahal Me’arot Nature Reserve, one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites.
They said that, based on the data collected, Natufian communities likely left their mountain dwellings during the winter months to hunt migratory birds that gathered in the lakes at the foot of Mount Carmel.
“Our findings show for the first time that members of the Natufian culture systematically hunted in the coastal lakes that existed here at the end of the Ice Age,” said Yeshurun.
The el-Wad Cave, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a rare glimpse into humanity’s shift from nomadic to settled life.
Excavations have revealed round stone dwellings, storage pits, tools, and burial sites belonging to the Natufian culture, which flourished between 15,000 and 11,700 years ago.
Ice Age bird remains reconstruct ancient Mt. Carmel life
The study examined bird remains under a microscope and identified 43 species, including ducks, geese, quail, partridges, and raptors.
Many bones bore cut marks and signs of charring – evidence of hunting, butchering, and cooking – while others had been polished into beads and ornaments, showing that the birds served as both nourishment and raw material for adornments.
The researchers divided the finds into four phases of settlement to trace changes in hunting practices and environmental conditions. Their analysis indicates that the Carmel coastal plain at the end of the Ice Age was a broad expanse of lakes and seasonal marshes, rich with migratory birds – a stark contrast to today’s Mediterranean coastline.
“The hunters on Mount Carmel lived at a time when sea levels were much lower than today,” Yeshurun said.
“Migrating ducks and geese provided them with a rich and varied diet, as well as materials for beads and ornaments. These findings allow us to reconstruct the way of life of these ancient inhabitants in the region.”
Supported by the Israel Science Foundation, the analysis sheds light on how early communities adapted to changing Ice Age environments and offers fresh insights into the daily life of one of humanity’s earliest semi-sedentary cultures (societies that did not permanently reside in one location year-round).