El Wad is an archaeological site of the Epipalaeolithic Near East in Mount Carmel, Israel. The site has two components: El Wad Cave, also known as Mughārat al-Wād () or HaNahal Cave (); and El Wad Terrace, located immediately outside the cave.

Together with the nearby sites of Tabun Cave, Jamal Cave, and Skhul Cave, el Wad is part of the Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Background and research history

thumb|right|Telegram from Charles Lambert to [[Ernest Richmond, the director of the Department of Antiquities, about the discovery of prehistoric art at El Wad. The message reads: "Found carved bone animal head, palaeolithic, great importance."]]

El Wad is one of a number of significant prehistoric archaeological sites in the caves of Wadi el-Mughara in Mount Carmel, now protected as the national nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. established the scientific importance of the caves and prevented them being destroyed in the quarrying.

The following year, the Department of Antiquities asked Dorothy Garrod to suspend her excavations at Shuqba Cave to deal with the "urgent matter" of investigating the el-Mughara caves. Garrod began her excavations with Lambert's soundings and extended them cover most of the interior of the cave and exterior terrace.

See also

  • Prehistory of the Levant

References

Further reading

  • A Pioneer of Prehistory: Dorothy Garrod and the Caves of Mount Carmel, photo exhibition at the Pitt Rivers Museum