ICRCIsrael Cave Research Center · Hebrew University

This page was translated from Hebrew and has not been reviewed yet. The Hebrew page is the reference. עברית

Caves of the Northern Judean Desert

Hareitun Cave

Hareitun Cave (Mugharet el-Ma'sa) is the longest limestone cave in Israel. The total length of the cave passages reaches 3450 m, and they spread out in a network-like maze in whose various parts 55 chambers and rooms open. The distance from the cave entrance to the farthest point is about 400 m. The cave has three entrances that were exposed on the western bank of Nahal Tekoa.

Bir el-Qa'ir

A small vertical pit consisting of a wide chamber measuring 20X16 m and 8 m high. The floor of the chamber is covered with a thick layer of pigeon droppings.

Crusader Monastery Cave

A chamber cave about 15X8 m, about 3 m high. On the floor is dark sediment rich in burnt dung, at least a meter thick. Smoothed walls and an elliptical cross-section: the cave looks phreatic/hypogenic. Entrance 10 m wide, 3 m high. Sparse walls built at the entrance to a height of 1 m. Patina of soot and remains of fires on the ceiling. It was used as a shepherds' cave.

Wadi Qelt Cave

A large cave (total length 146 m) that developed by phreatic dissolution processes in Turonian limestone (Beina Fm.). The cave has a prominent arch-shaped entrance (measuring 4X2.3 m) opening high on the northern bank of Wadi Qelt, about 25 m above the stream bed.