Caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin

The caves of Maresha and Bet Guvrin were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 at UNESCO's 38th annual meeting in Doha, Qatar.
The caves now join a prestigious list of some 1,000 sites worldwide, including the Pyramids in Egypt, the Acropolis of Athens, India's Taj Mahal, the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, the Canadian Rockies and the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.
The caves were inscribed based on Criterion V of the World Heritage Convention, by which they exhibit "an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-used, which is representative of a culture, or human interaction with the environment".
The ancient cities of Maresha (eighth-first centuries BCE) and Bet Guvrin (first-tenth centuries CE) are located near the crossroad of the trade routes connecting Mesopotamia and Egypt and they attest to the variety of cultures in the region and their continuous development over almost 2,000 years. The caves, which are located beneath and nearby these cities, have universal significance due to:
-Various cultural groups that recognized the special characteristics of the soft chalk and knew how to take advantage of it to produce building materials and create caves for various uses.
-The variety of uses to which the caves where put: stone quarries; cisterns; olive oil presses; bath and purification installations; columbaria (dovecotes); wells; hiding places; rituals; stables; storage; burial; and water tunnels.
-The number of caves and their density: approximately 500 caves containing some 3,500 rooms, extending over about 3,000 dunams (about 741 acres; 300 hectares).
The caves that were inscribed are located with Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park. This area encompasses all the elements found in the thousands of caves that are scattered throughout the Land of the Caves and Hiding Places in the Judean lowlands. UNESCO's inscription of the site as a World Heritage Site requires the state to protect it so that it remains in prime condition as part of global human heritage, for our generation and those to come. Within the national park these cultural assets can best be protected.
Bell Caves (Bet Guvrin)
-"It Bet Guvrin is a land of richness and abundance, and it has many marble quarries....." Bell Caves are so called because of their unique shape resulted from the method of quarrying: first, a round shaft (no more than 0.9m in diameter) was cut through the hard surface rock, known as nari (about three meters thick) to the soft chalk layers beneath it. Then the shaft was enlarged. Rectangular blocks were removed from the caves with ropes. The quarrying of the caves began at the end of the Byzantine period (the beginning of the seventh century CE), and reached its height during the Early Islamic period (the seventh to eleventh century CE). The stones were used in construction and in lime production. Therefore during these periods Bet Guvrin was an important chalk supply center.
Columbaria Cave
-Cave was planned and hewn as a dovecote for raising Pigeons for food, for cult purposes and for their manure which was used as fertilizer.
The Apollophanaes Cave
-this was a family tomb. The deceased were placed in niches and their bones were later removed to enable repeated use of the niches. Colorful decorations describes various figures and animals, real and mythological. Following the discovery of this cave, the colors of the paintings began to fade and they were vandalized, causing their disappearance. Based upon colored photographs of the original paintings, the cast slabs attached to the wall bear the reconstruction paintings.
Timestamps:
00:34 Entrance to Bell Caves
01:15 Bell Caves or Bet Guvrin
07:28 Columbaria Caves (dovecotes)
09:08 The Apollophanaes Cave

[@rosemarieS724]

Wonderful Caves of Maresha, awesome... LOVESAVVY LV

[@roseannelltee]

Wow amazing Cave Of Maresha and Bet Gurvin ang ganda po MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@bonjovi6031]

Ang ganda naman ng lugar tiyak maeenjoy mo ang BET GURVIN cave LOVESAVVY

[@roseannelltee]

Wow nice place ganda ng cave BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@Tisaywaray]

Ang ganda magwalking at maglibot diyan sa BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@roseannelltee]

Wow ganda po jan amazing place in BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

Naiiba ang ganda ng lugar ,awesome BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@roseannelltee]

Wow amazing park ang ganda enjoy CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Wonderful scenery, BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@elynyaws3843]

VERY RELAXING AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

ANG GANDA PAGMASDAN ANG MGA PALIGID DAMING NAGLALAKIHANG MGA PUNO BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Wow so lovely and relaxing place, BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@Tisaywaray]

CHECKING OUT CAVES matindi ang ginawa nilang pag aalaga diyan nakakabilib naman #LOVESAVVY

[@elynyaws3843]

VERY NICE PLACE SO RELAXING ENJOY BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@megamixvlog8335]

BET GURVIN dinadayo ng mga tourista ganda ng view #LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

CHECKING OUT CAVES,masaya pag madami kang lugar na madiscover #LOVESAVVY

[@AnalynPancho9742]

beautiful place a lots of wonderful views BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Wow the surroundings is very nice and clean, BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@Tisaywaray]

Memorable and admirable place at BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@Tisaywaray]

Maganda kung may maiuuwi kang souvenir galing diyan,very memorable and great experience makapasok sa loob ng cave..MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@elynyaws3843]

SO BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

WONDERFUL CAVES OF MARESHA AND BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

BET GURVIN MUST BEAUTIFUL PLACE CAVES OF MARESHA #LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

Ang lawak din pala sa loob ng caves ang iikutin sa BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Wow this place is so fantastic, BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

BEAUTIFUL AND RELAXING BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@AnalynPancho9742]

beautiful caves of BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@Tisaywaray]

Parang accomplishments pag nakapunta sa lugar na iyan sa BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

So wonderful and unique BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

CHECKING OUT CAVES at mukhang matibay ang pagkakagawa dito #LOVESAVVY

[@elynyaws3843]

SO BEAUTIFUL CAVES OF MARESHA ENJOY CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@bernadethdesalisateamsavvy6072]

Anggaling ng pagkagawa CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@roseannelltee]

Nice ang ganda po jan enjoy CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@elynyaws3843]

BET GURVIN IS VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE ENJOY EXPLORER WALKING AND KEEP SAFE #LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

VERY REFRESHING PLACE ENJOY TOUR HOST BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@AnalynPancho9742]

looks amazing caves of BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@Tisaywaray]

This fun and exciting while CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

ANG GANDA DAMING MGA TANIM NAGBIGAY SILUNGAN NG MGA IBONG LUMILIPAD ENJOY TOUR MAAM MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

Great discovery about the amazing place of BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@elynyaws3843]

VERY NICE PARK PERFECT FOR EXPLORING ENJOY CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@megamixvlog8335]

ang ganda ng BET GURVIN daming dumadayo #LOVESAVVY

[@bernadethdesalisateamsavvy6072]

Memorable experience CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

VERY WONDERFUL PLACE OF CAVES OF MARESHA SO NICE CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@AnalynPancho9742]

OMG ANG GANDA NG PLACE CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@bernadethdesalisateamsavvy6072]

Enjoy mamasyal pag ganyan ang pupuntahan, angganda ng lugar MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@AnalynPancho9742]

BET GURVIN SO BEAUTIFUL PLACE #LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

Yan pala ang loob ng cave nakakaenjoy pumunta pag madami kayong magkakasama..MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@justinekatetv9731]

VERY AMAZING PLACE PERFECT FOR EXPLORE CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@glezzykaithtv5696]

Angganda naman dyan, tas malamig sa mga cave, Lovesavvy lv

[@elynyaws3843]

VERY AMAZING PLACE ENJOY EXPLORER HOST AND KEEP SAFE ALWAYS MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

ang lawak ng park BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

amazing place BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@glezzykaithtv5696]

Peaceful place BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Wow fantastic cave, enjoy exploring and CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

GREAT PLACE CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@Kuttysinaustralia]

Wow, huge cave’s! Nice to hear some of the narration from the guide.

[@gratefulwalker]

🥰🥰thanks kutty

[@AnalynPancho9742]

CHECKING OUT CAVES SO BEAUTIFUL #LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

CHECKING OUT CAVES SO BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Wow fabulous cave, thanks for tour us in this beautiful and relaxing place...MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@bernadethdesalisateamsavvy6072]

Cool place BET GURVIN #LOVESAVVY

[@mariag8069]

Visitors should follow the do's and don't 's when CHECKING OUT CAVES...#LOVESAVVY

[@-eva7892]

Ang ganda naman jan sir LOVESAVVY

[@tessargales3493]

I love the greenery of the place,but the Caves of Maresha look's cool..lovesavvy lv

[@bernadethdesalisateamsavvy6072]

Beautiful caves of Maresha lovesavvy

[@glezzykaithtv5696]

Nice experience CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@rosemarieS724]

Enjoy exploring lovely place, CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@glezzykaithtv5696]

Beautiful park CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@user-arabellaxxx]

Enjoy ❣️

[@AnalynPancho9742]

great caves of maresha in bet gurin wow MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

amazing cave im so grateful thanks for sharing your videos MSP#5LOVESAVVY

[@rosaly-m]

❤❤❤

[@bonjovi6031]

Enjoy your day CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@AgathaAna-k8p]

wow so wonderful place lovesavvylv

[@glezzykaithtv5696]

Nice explore CHECKING OUT CAVES #LOVESAVVY

[@KuyaRai5186]

❤