35,000-Year-Old Ritual Site Discovered in Manot Cave, Israel

Archaeologists uncover a turtle-shaped carving in a deep cave chamber, providing the earliest evidence of ritual practices in Southwest Asia.

Manot Cave in Galilee, Israel, has revealed a ritual chamber dating back 35,000 to 37,000 years, making it the oldest known ritual site in Southwest Asia.
A carved dolomite boulder resembling a turtle shell was found in a niche, likely serving as a symbolic or spiritual object for prehistoric gatherings.
The chamber, located eight stories below the cave entrance, features natural acoustics and evidence of torch use, suggesting it was used for communal rituals by early humans.
Radiometric dating of the carving and surrounding artifacts confirms its age, with additional finds like a modified deer antler supporting human activity in the space.
The discovery provides rare insight into the symbolic and social practices of early Homo sapiens in the region, linked to the Aurignacian culture with ties to Europe.