Childhood Memory Leads to Discovery of Remarkable Cave
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Professor Amos Frumkin, a founder of Ofra, detailed the discovery of the Naḥal Qana cave, initiated by a childhood memory of a local resident. The cave, located near the village of Bidya in western Samaria, was found after a lengthy search prompted by the resident's recollection of a hidden opening. Archaeological excavations at the site revealed further extensions and unique artifacts, contributing to a broader initiative documenting Israeli settlement history.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Professor Amos Frumkin described the discovery of the Naḥal Qana cave, calling it one of Israel's most fascinating.
- The cave's discovery stemmed from a local resident's childhood memory of a hidden opening near Bidya.
- Frumkin's team, surveying caves, used the memory to locate the entrance after standard methods proved difficult.
- Archaeological digs at the cave revealed extensions and previously unknown artifacts.
- The discovery is part of a project by the Ministry of Heritage to document settlement history.
Professor Amos Frumkin, a founder of the settlement of Ofra, recounted the discovery of the Naḥal Qana cave, which he described as one of Israel's most fascinating.
The discovery began with a childhood memory from a local resident, Fathi Abu Wasfi, who as a boy had crawled into a small opening in a field near the village of Bidya. He found a large hall filled with stalactites but had forgotten its exact location over the years. Frumkin and his colleagues, who were systematically surveying caves in the region, were eventually led to the site by Abu Wasfi's son.
Frumkin explained that their usual method of checking every opening was impractical in the vast area of western Samaria. The breakthrough came when Abu Wasfi shared his memory, prompting Frumkin's group to seek out the location. After considerable effort to convince a landowner, whose field contained the entrance, to allow access, Abu Wasfi's son guided them to the hidden opening.
Upon entering, they found the large hall Abu Wasfi had described. Subsequent archaeological excavations revealed that the cave extended further than initially apparent, yielding previously undiscovered artifacts. The project is part of an initiative by the Ministry of Heritage and the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel to document the establishment of settlements across various regions.