Ohalo II Archaeological Site

Ohalo II is a Late Upper Paleolithic archaeological site on the southwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, dated to roughly 23,000 years before present. It is notable for the exceptional preservation of organic material in waterlogged sediments.

The site yields well-preserved house floors, sets of tools and large quantities of plant and animal remains that inform on subsistence and technology at a hunter-gatherer camp. Finds include botanical material and artifacts associated with food processing and hunting, making it important for studies of early plant exploitation.

Excavations began after the site was exposed by lowering lake levels in the late 20th century and were led by Israeli archaeologists; published work has emphasized its preservation and the insight it gives into Late Upper Paleolithic lifeways. The site is primarily known from scientific publications and controlled excavations rather than as a visitor attraction.

Ohalo II sits on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel; the exposed remains are in a low-lying, formerly waterlogged area adjacent to the lake shore.

• Age and preservation: Dated to about 23,000 years ago and preserved in waterlogged sediments, producing exceptional organic remains rarely found at open-air Upper Paleolithic sites.
• Archaeological significance: Excavations exposed floors, house features and a wide range of plant and animal remains that have informed research on prehistoric diet and plant use.

Ohalo II lies near the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret). Access is usually arranged through archaeological or academic groups; the nearest towns with public access are Tiberias and nearby kibbutzim. Private transport from Tiberias or surrounding roads is common.

• Visit early in the morning to see the lakeside and the marsh edges calm-archaeological impressions are easier to imagine with quiet water and fewer visitors.
• Bring a guide familiar with local prehistory-the site's significance in the Natufian and Epipalaeolithic sequences is clearer with expert interpretation.