Aadloun II / Bezez Cave

Description

Aadloun II, Mugharet el Bzaz or Bezez Cave is a cave on the east of the road heading to Tyre recessed into a cliff at a height of approximately 17 metres (56 ft) above sea level. It was originally sounded in 1898 by Jesuit Archaeologist, Godefroy Zumoffen who found little of interest. A major excavation was undertaken in 1963 by Dorothy Garrod and Diana Kirkbride who determined a long sequence stretching through the Yarbrudian, Levalloiso-Mousterian, Upper Paleolithic and on into the Heavy Neolithic materials from the Qaroun culture at the start of the Neolithic revolution. Materials from the excavations are held by Saint Joseph University and the American University of Beirut. The site is owned by the Directorate General of Antiquities and a gate was fixed over the mouth of the cave for protection in 1966. Three distinct levels were determined. Level C was called "Acheuleo-Yarbrudian" with materials discovered resembling level E at Tabun Cave. Level B was called "Levalloiso-Mousterian" and compared with level D of Tabun. Level C evidenced the Upper Paleolithic and onwards.