Nahal Teenim Cave Survey - General Background
The channel of Nahal Teenim. Photo: Boaz Langford
General background:
Nahal Teenim is a large channel descending from the Mount Gerizim plateau westward to its end in the channel of Nahal Alexander, in the south of the Hefer Valley. The length of the stream, from the head of its upper channel to its end, is 45 km, over which it drops a vertical height difference of 790 m.
During several tours in the lower part of the stream, several caves were located in it, and in the Wadi a-Tina channel that empties into it.
The repeated tours focused on the section of the stream between the asphalt road connecting the villages Beit Lid and Kur and the outlet of the stream onto the plains of the Hefer Valley (Sha'ar Efraim pass).
The banks of the stream in this area are incised into limestone and dolomite rocks of the Sakhnin and Bi'ina formations (Cenomanian, Turonian).
The rocks of the Sakhnin Formation form stepped slopes, usually steep. In contrast, the rocks of the Bi'ina Formation form a cliff ledge that stands out in the landscape, which in some cases has weathered into an elongated gutter. Most of the cave entrances were located within the boundaries of the Sakhnin Formation and a minority in the Bi'ina Formation. All the caves are characterized by small and simple spaces, except Tikanim Cave, which consists of several spaces and reaches a length of several tens of meters.
In a large part of the caves, remains of human activity were found, ancient or modern.
The ancient activity is represented by a few potsherds that were found during the visit and left at the site, as well as by the cutting of a few cupmarks. Modern human activity is represented by construction in the entrance area as well as by a great deal of waste and remains of campfires. It appears that caves with a wide, semi-lit entrance are used by shepherds as a shaded place to rest or as a protected place for the flock.
Animal activity consists mainly of the presence of various arthropods.
Prominent and special in this respect is a spider of the genus Pachusan (flat spider) that was found in Teenim Hideout Cave and is a rare observation of this exotic spider. Mammal observations include a few individual insectivorous bats as well as expected activity of porcupines and rock hyraxes.
In this context Tikanim Cave is an exception, in which a large population of fruit bats dwells.
Below are presented the various caves discovered in the stream, with details of their description and accompanying particulars about them.
It is likely and plausible that in the stream basin, including its lower part, there are additional caves that have not yet been discovered. We would be glad to be updated on what is happening in the known caves as well as on new discoveries. Additional caves from other parts of the stream, which have not yet been examined in depth, are also presented.
Written by: Boaz Langford
