Basic caving course (3 days)
Taught by Shemesh Yaaran, a researcher at the Cave Research Center for 9 years.
The basic caving course gives you the foundation and the tools to better understand the underground environment in all its aspects. It is a must for every cave enthusiast who is interested in the field and wants to go deeper and explore it.
During the course we visit caves in different parts of the country, get to know various archaeological finds and practice documenting them. We sample and document biological species underground. We learn about cave deposits and cave geology. We get to know and practice writing a detailed cave report, photographing and sampling, which can serve as a basis for discussion and sharing with the professionals who study these worlds.
Registration depends on a down payment of 500 ILS.
Cancellation policy:
- Up to two weeks before the course: full refund
- Up to one week before: 50% refund
* Please state the requested date inside the Paybox app.
Course programme
Friday 6.5.22 – Caves of western Samaria
Meeting point: Modi'in Illit (the exact location will be given by the instructor).
Meeting time: 8:00.
This day is dedicated to cave geology and morphology.
We learn about the formation of caves in limestone: what phreatic and vadose caves are, and how the structure of a cave relates to the way it formed. We get to know the processes that shape caves and the morphological signs that show how they were formed,
What are dip and strike and how are they measured? We learn a basic field definition of the mineralogy of cave deposits.
We continue and go deeper into cave biology: what are troglophiles, troglobites and trogloxenes? How do you identify them? How do you document them?
Saturday 7.5.22 – Judean Foothills (Shfela)
Meeting point: the Beit Guvrin gas station.
Meeting time: 8:00.
This day is dedicated to learning in depth about archaeology and biology in caves.
We enter one of the most interesting hideaway systems in the Judean Foothills and gradually discover how, guided step by step, we are exposed to more and more elements that the untrained eye does not notice and whose meaning it does not understand. We learn to measure and document caves in depth, paying attention to as many interesting details as possible.
Saturday 14.5.22 – The salt caves of Mount Sodom
Meeting point: Sodom (the exact location will be given by the instructor)
Meeting time: 8:00
On this day we get to know a special type of cave, salt caves, and the phenomena related to them.
A geographic and geological overview of the area and the story of the cave's discovery. We get to know the characteristics of salt caves: salt shafts, cave deposits, halite crystals, bat and swift activity, and the activity of arthropods and insects. We learn about the structure of these caves, how they formed and the research over the years.
As a final exercise we hold a 'caves and senses' exercise: we experience real darkness and real silence.
Course price
5-6 participants: 1200 ILS.
7-8 participants: 900 ILS.
9-10 participants: 750 ILS.
The price includes: instruction, equipment and insurance.
The price does not include: food, travel.
Additional dates
An advanced caving course will take place on 1-2.7.2022 and 8-9.7.2022