The small mammals of the geula cave

The Geula cave of Mount Carmel was found to contain flint tools of the Levalloiso-Mousterian and Levalloisian type (carbon dating for layer B₁: 42,000 ± 1700). The cave was especially rich in small mammal remains, of which some 30 species are described in the present paper. It is argued that some fossil species, such as Erinaceus carmelitus, Erinaceus sharonis and Crocidura katinka, cannot be regarded as valid. On the other hand many recent species which up to now were not known to have existed in the Levalloiso-Mousterian, were found at Geula. These include bats of the genera Rhina/ophus, Myotis and Miniopterus, and carnivores as Martes foina and Me/es meles. The faunal assemblage of Geula contradicts Bate's theory of a faunal break between the Upper and Lower Levalloiso--Mousterian, and Higgs' theory of a faunal break at the onset of the Main Wtirm. The so called "modem" fauna inhabiting the Carmel and Galilee today is actually not modem at all, as it has inhabited the Carmel since the Levalloiso--Mousterian at least.