The Peqi‘in Cave: A Chalcolithic Cemetery in Upper Galilee, Israel

In May 1995, a unique Chalcolithic burial cave was discovered at Peqi‘in, Upper Galilee, Israel. Surprisingly, since Chalcolithic burial caves were known mainly on Israel’s coastal plain, this natural cave yielded one of the richest assemblages of ossuaries, burial jars, and other ceramic vessels ever found, many bearing iconographic presentations hitherto unknown. The cave also contained the skeletal remains of at least six hundred individuals. This article tells the story of the excavations, reviews the diverse finds, and offers an understanding of this cave within the Chalcolitic context.