| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 47-60 |
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| Journal | Opera Ipogea |
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| Volume | 14 |
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| Issue number | 2 |
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| State | Published - 2014 |
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The paper focuses on bell-shaped underground quarries, which were rock-cut in the soft limestone of the Judean Foothills during the Late Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. These large and imposing artificial caves, typical to this region, located south-west of Jerusalem, were first described by scholars and explorers who visited the area in the 19th century, and were extremely impressed by the caves. They suggested various theories regarding their function: cistern, granaries, dwellings, stables and underground churches. The phenomenon was discussed in a pioneering study, undertaken more than fifty years ago by Y. Ben-Arieh (1962) who explained the function of the subterranean caves as quarries, for the extraction of the local soft chalk. Scholars estimate that the total number of bell-shaped caves around Beth Govrin, where the region's biggest quarries operated, is over 800. Others estimate their total number in the region as being c. 3000.The aim of this paper is to present and describe the phenomenon according to new archaeological and spe-leological surveys. The current study focuses, among other issues, on the method of quarrying and on a re- examination of the chronology of the phenomenon, the carving methods, Christian and Muslim graffiti and inscriptions, and finally, the use and reuse of the caves