Dorothy Garrod (centre) 1928 Natufian culture discovery

The Natufian Culture marks perhaps one of the most extraordinary transformations of our ancient human culture. Dating to just after the last ice age (15,000 years ago) archaeological evidence shows that the culture enabled (perhaps) the first sedentary population prior to the introduction of agriculture.

Natufian communities are considered possible ancestors of those who constructed the region’s initial Neolithic settlements.

The Natufian culture was discovered by the indomitable British archaeologist Dorothy Garrod in 1929 during her excavations of Shuqba Cave in the Judaean Mountains of Palestine.

In this day course we will look at the archaeological evidence of the Natufian Culture, why they settled here, how they lived, what they produced and their belief systems. We will also look at the life of the incredible archaeologist who discovered them; Dorothy Garrod.