A karst survey of the western upper Galilee in Israel shows that karst has been a dominant geomorphic factor throughout the Cenozoic. We discuss the geomorphic character of Manot Cave on the background of other karst features of the region, in order to decipher the preferences of the humans who favored this cave over others. Tens of caves distributed over the study area demonstrate that phreatic and hypogene isolated voids and conduit segments are more abundant than vadose shafts, sinking stream caves and spring caves, although all these types are present. Most caves belong to old stages of landform development, prior to Plio-Pleistocene uplift and stream entrenchment. Manot Cave is a relict chamber cave, which corresponds to a plaeo-water table and the erosion plain above it. Subaerial denudation and slope processes have opened the cave to the surface during the mid-late Pleistocene. Manot Cave is compared with other caves in the region, demonstrating its unique character. It may have been selected due to the small entrance facing to the SW, and the large inner chamber which could be used for non-domestic purposes. This suggests a possible role of a unique behavioral and cultural suite of characters which influenced hominin preferences. The cave was used by hominins and animals until being closed again by colluvium and possibly collapse, ∼30 ka. Clastic, chemical, archaeozoological and anthropogenic accumulations reflect the various stages of cave development and gradual sealing of the entrance.

中文翻译：

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以色列上加利利西部的喀斯特地形：马诺特洞穴的成穴、水文地质和人类偏好。

对以色列上加利利西部的岩溶勘察表明，在整个新生代，岩溶一直是主要的地貌因素。我们在该地区其他喀斯特特征的背景下讨论马诺特洞穴的地貌特征，以破译喜欢这个洞穴而不是其他人的人类偏好。分布在研究区的数十个洞穴表明，尽管所有这些类型都存在，但潜水和下成因的孤立空隙和管道段比包气井、下沉河洞和泉洞更丰富。大多数洞穴属于地貌发育的旧阶段，在上新世-更新世隆起和河道堑壕形成之前。马诺特洞穴是一个残室洞穴，对应于古地下水位及其上方的侵蚀平原。在中晚期更新世期间，地下剥蚀和斜坡过程使洞穴向地表开放。马诺特洞穴与该地区的其他洞穴相比，显示出它的独特性。选择它可能是因为面向 SW 的小入口和可用于非家庭用途的大内室。这表明影响人类偏好的独特行为和文化特征套件的可能作用。该洞穴被古人类和动物使用，直到被崩积物再次关闭并可能坍塌，大约 30 ka。碎屑、化学、考古和人为堆积反映了洞穴发展和入口逐渐封闭的各个阶段。彰显其独特的个性。选择它可能是因为面向 SW 的小入口和可用于非家庭用途的大内室。这表明影响人类偏好的独特行为和文化特征套件的可能作用。该洞穴被古人类和动物使用，直到被崩积物再次关闭并可能坍塌，大约 30 ka。碎屑、化学、考古和人为堆积反映了洞穴发展和入口逐渐封闭的各个阶段。彰显其独特的个性。选择它可能是因为面向 SW 的小入口和可用于非家庭用途的大内室。这表明影响人类偏好的独特行为和文化特征套件的可能作用。该洞穴被古人类和动物使用，直到被崩积物再次关闭并可能坍塌，大约 30 ka。碎屑、化学、考古和人为堆积反映了洞穴发展和入口逐渐封闭的各个阶段。该洞穴被古人类和动物使用，直到被崩积物再次关闭并可能坍塌，大约 30 ka。碎屑、化学、考古和人为堆积反映了洞穴发展和入口逐渐封闭的各个阶段。该洞穴被古人类和动物使用，直到被崩积物再次关闭并可能坍塌，大约 30 ka。碎屑、化学、考古和人为堆积反映了洞穴发展和入口逐渐封闭的各个阶段。