Section GCaves to the southwest of the Arbel Cave Village click text to see the picture 501 General view of the cliffs southwest of the Cave Village 502 A group of natural caves adjacent to the fortress 503 Current resident of the Cave Village: a rock hyrax 504 The first cave in the group is quite large 505 Residential caves on three levels just outside the cave entrance 506 A structure inside the cave, near the entrance: maybe once a cistern for water 507 Next to the cistern, a space that may have been a mikveh 508 The cave extends deep into the cliff: at the end there are several small, vertical shafts in the rock, most probably eroded by water draining from above. 509 Natural and man-made cavities on the cave's south side 510 Hewn footholds lead up to a dark opening above 511 ....where there is a sizeable cavity, maybe for storage 512 Another opening at the same level, a few feet away, guarded by a pigeon. Perhaps another storage space. 513 There is a narrow ledge leading to the next cave.... 514 .... with a view of Mt. Hermon, when visibility improves 515 This seems to be a residential cave, and there is something in the wall.... 516 It looks like a scroll.... but is just a toilet roll 517 There is an internal passage to a neighbouring cave 518 Back on the main path, a sign to the 'refugee caves' 519 After a steep climb.... 520 high above the level of the path.... 521 There is a colony of caves at the base of the cliff 522 These caves were carved around the 1st cent CE 523 The blue plaque dates them to the revolt against Herod (38 BCE), but, more likely, they were built by refugees from the first Jewish Revolt (66-70 CE). 524 The caves are arranged on different levels, like rooms in a house. 525 To the left 526 And to the right 527 With a balcony too. 528 On either side of the main 'building' are some smaller single caves exiting on a narrow ledge 529 It is impossible to proceed beyond a certain point 530 Entering the cave at the bottom right in 529 531 One can still see the small niches in the wall for lamps 532 This group of 15 caves, inaccessible from both sides, may have been the home of an extended family unit. 533 The next group is similar 534 It is the last cave cluster on the National Park's trail 535 There are early 1st cent BCE caves on the right 536 And a later 1st century CE multi-level 'block' on the left 537 View from the lower right cave in 536 538 In one of the older caves at ground level, 539 there is a nice view and a curious modification 540 A small alcove within the cell: possibly for use as a small shrine by later Byzantine monk-hermits 541 Similar to those found in other caves in the area 542 In another cave, in the area indicated, 543 is a remnant of ancient plaster, from cistern or mikveh 544 At the end of the trail, the slope becomes more steep 545 These two caves are the last on this stretch 546 Looking back at an escarpment strewn with cave-dwellings, once populated by scores of people, like a 'tower block' in ancient times 547 The view northeast from the southern end of the trail 548 To return to base, there is a near-vertical climb of 50 m. 549 Helped by metal footholds and handgrips 550 Often used for army training, it is quite a challenge for the rest of us 551 Finally we reach the top 552 Where there is a welcoming picnic spot 553 And a fine view 554 In every direction
Section GCaves to the southwest of the Arbel Cave Village click text to see the picture