Insights into Natufian Social Identity: A Case Study from the Graveyard of Hayonim Cave

Burials at Hayonim Cave, part of the UNESCO-listed Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel, reveal that certain locations served as dedicated burial grounds for over 3000 years during the Natufian period. This continuity suggests a strong cultural memory and adherence to mortuary practices, reinforcing social cohesion within and between groups. The study highlights similarities in burials across distinct sites like Hayonim Cave and Eynan, indicating inter-group ties. By analyzing these patterns, researchers demonstrate how long-term retention of burial traditions played a pivotal role in shaping Natufian social identity.

Grosman, L., & Belfer-Cohen, A. (2022). Insights into Natufian Social Identity: A Case Study from the Graveyard of Hayonim Cave. Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 33(2), 247–264. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959774322000282