excavated cave, located at the foot of a limestone cliff on the right bank of Nahal (Wadi) Hilazon in western Galilee, Israel, is about 14km from the Mediterranean. Excavations showed a shallow depression in the cave floor of about 30m² which contained remains dating to the late Natufian phase.

The burials were unearthed as three discrete concentrations, showing three distinctive burial types. At the top layer a burial of a single individual was lying directly on large stones between two structures. Additionally, within the structures themselves, small (c.1m in diameter) and built from undressed limestone cobbles, there are single burials covered by stone slabs.

In the inner part of the cave there are collective burials in small pits (covering 5m² to a depth of 50cm), representing different age groups. Given the number of individuals, many bones are missing, specifically long bones and crania. Probably these collective graves served as a primary burial area that was later reopened and skulls and long bones (i.e. bones that are usually found in secondary burials) were removed.

The body was buried in an unusual position, on its side with the spinal column, pelvis and right thigh bone against the curved southern wall of the grave. The legs were spread apart and folded inward at the knees, as in the sketch above.

Ten large stones were placed over the head, pelvis and arms of the corpse at burial. After decomposition the weight of the stones caused disarticulation of parts of the skeleton, including separation of the pelvis from her spine. Bone analysis indicates the shaman was 45-years-old, small-built with an unnatural, asymmetrical appearance caused by spinal disability which would have affected the woman's movements so as to drag her foot when walking. This is probably the reason for a large human foot buried with her to help her in the after-life.

She was buried with 50 complete tortoise shells. The tortoise flesh was probably eaten in a funeral feast around the grave, and the high number of tortoise limb bones in her grave may indicate that they were thrown in with the shells after being eaten. The grave goods also included select body-parts of a wild boar, an eagle, wild cow, leopard, and two martens (a weasel specie).

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