Our Planet’s Landmarks Series #13

Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel

Panorama of Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Bet Guvrin National Park, Israel

The Bet Guvrin and Maresha caves lie scattered over a large area of 1250 acres in Judaean Lowlands. The locals call it the Land of the Caves and Hiding Places (Official Name: Bet Guvrin National Park). There are over 500 caves containing more than 3500 rooms. From Jerusalem, the distance is about 60 km.

Inside one of the caves at Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Inside a cave

Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin got on to UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. The listing hails them as an outstanding example of:

• A traditional human settlement
• A land-use representative of culture, and
• Human interaction with the environment

The UNESCO-listed Bhimbetka Rock Shelters in Madhya Pradesh boast a similar citation.

An intriguing view - Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
An intriguing view from one of the caves

The Story of The Caves

Maresha and Bet Guvrin flourished over two different periods. Maresha existed between 8th and 1st Centuries BCE (biblical times). Bet Guvrin thrived between 1st and 10th Centuries CE (Roman and post-Roman times). While they existed in different eras, their inhabitants had one thing in common. They recognised and exploited the special characteristics of the soft chalk. They used it to produce building material and create caves for shelter.

Stairs inside a cave - Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Stairs cut along the side of the cave for easy descent

The caves served many uses. Each more amazing than the other. Stone quarries. Cisterns. Baths. Purification installations. Olive oil presses. Columbaria (dovecotes). Wells. Hiding places. Storage. Stables. Places for burial and rituals. Water tunnels. The site has it all.

During the Roman period, Maresha faced attack, got decimated, and its inhabitants fled. The settlement then moved to nearby Bet Guvrin.

Columbarium Cave - Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Columbarium Cave for dove-raising

The Mediterranean woodland covers the low hills in the area. Cattle used to graze here. Its fertile soil was ideal for cultivation. It fell on the trade route between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Little wonder, the region flourished.

Later, a variety of reasons led to its marginalisation. Till the archeologists rediscovered it.

Oil Press Cave - Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Oil Press Cave for olive oil extraction

Archeological Research History

Archeological research began at Bet Guvrin as early as 1900 CE. Palestine Exploration Fund provided finance for the exploration. By 1902, the researchers excavated two caves. After that, many more followed. Even today, it remains a live-excavation site. Volunteers may enlist and take part in the ongoing excavations.

Oil Press Cave - Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Oil Press Cave – different technique deployed for olive oil extraction

Bet Guvrin Caves Tour

A walking tour of the caves open to public takes 3-4 hours. The high-quality design of each cave will leave you speechless. The must-visits during your walk are:

• The Columbarium Cave
• The Oil Press Cave
• The Ancient Dwelling
• The Sidonian Caves (Cave Nos. 8 & 9), and
• The Bell Caves

The other minor attractions include:

• A crusader fortress
• A bathhouse, and
• St Anne’s Church (Byzantine period)

Visitors coming down the stairs cut along the side of the cave at Bet Guvrin-Maresha Caves Israel - Travelure ©
Visitors coming down the stairs cut along the side of a cave

The Attractions

Columbarium Cave features over 2000 carved niches for doves. Dove raising was quite common in those days.

Oil Press Cave has a single crushing installation. It is one amongst the 22 underground oil presses discovered here.

The Ancient Dwelling has been reconstructed for visitors’ benefit. Its ground floor has rooms arranged around a central courtyard.

Sidonian Caves were for the burial of the dead during Hellenistic period. The niches in the caves were the spaces for burials. Gables (a triangular architectural element) decorated these niches.

The Bell Caves were hewn during Byzantine and early Muslim periods. These caves served as quarries to provide building material for the cities in the region.

An Important Tip

During your visit, carry drinking water. The walking tour is long and there are no snack/beverage kiosks along the route.

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