The oldest known ritual chamber in the Middle East has been found

As many as 100 people could have gathered in the cave space unearthed in Israel

The inside of a cave.

A chamber deep inside an Israeli cave, shown here, served as a ritual compound for large gatherings as early as around 37,000 years ago, scientists say.

Guy Geva

An ancient ritual compound has come to light in the deepest, darkest part of a cave located in what’s now northern Israel.