HUMAN-MADE BEDROCK HOLES (MORTARS AND CUPMARKS) AS A LATE NATUFIAN SOCIAL PHENOMENON

A concentration of 77 Late Natufian Human-made Bedrock Holes (mortars, cupmarks, etc.) hewn into the Raqefet Cave floor and terrace (Mt. Carmel, Israel) has been recently exposed. Some appear to be associated with human burials, and several had stone and flint objects buried in them. The variety of HBH types, in terms of dimensions and morphology is very wide, so the new classification system is suggested. The deep narrow specimens do not appear to have been used for any kind of processing, storing or quarrying. Yet, their manufacture must have been very costly in terms of time, energy, carving tools, and personal skills. The paper presents the Raqefet Cave HBHs as a case study, and cautiously suggests that some of them may have been incorporated into the Late Natufian social and spiritual worlds.