A Rock-Cut Burial Cave from the Early, Intermediate and Late Bronze Ages near Ḥorbat Zelef (pp. 1–46)

The burial cave is located in the modern village of Shibli, on the northeastern slope of Mount Tabor. In the cave, five burial levels were identified, dating to Early Bronze Age IIB (V), Early Bronze Age III (IV), the Intermediate Bronze Age (III), Late Bronze Age I (II) and Late Bronze Age II (I). The burial goods from the cave include various prestige items, such as an axe head from EB I; bronze, carnelian and alabaster objects, as well as imported pottery vessels and heirloom scarab seals from LB I; and imported Cypriot pottery and jewelry from LB II. The continuous use of the tomb attests that this slope functioned as the traditional burial grounds for the settlement at Ḥorbat Zelef. Notably, there was a gap between each period of use in the tomb. This pattern of use may mirror the gap in settlement at Ḥorbat Zelef; however, this correlation can only be supported by further study of the settlement site.