The hike:

 

On the opposite side of the road to the parking lot are agricultural exhibits. These include an olive press. There is a similar oil press in The Oil Press Cave (#6) and details will be discussed there. A threshing floor and wine press have also been reconstructed. Beyond this, in the direction of the fields, is a display of columns, column bases, pedestals, capitals and cornices from the Hellenistic to late Islamic period and agricultural devices. None are labelled or explained.

 

•  At the far end of the parking lot, take the walking trail indicated by a sign. There is also a pole with blue bands. The first cave you come to is The Polish Cave (#2) and close to this *The Columbarium Cave (#3). [Sites marked with an * are considered more worthwhile visiting].

 

The raising of doves was a major industry in the Shfelah in the Hellenistic period and some 85 columbarium caves have been found in Maresha. There are over 2,000 niches in this particular cave. The cave is in the shape of a double cross and there are two openings in the ceiling. Raising doves required little labor as the birds fed themselves. The doves and their eggs were used for food. In an age without refrigeration, a single dove made a convenient food portion. Doves were also used for sacrificial purposes and their droppings could be gathered and used for fertilizer, especially for the olive trees. The Talmud (Bava Kama 79b) forbids using the pigeons of the Idumeans because they were assumed to forage in others’ fields, particularly grain, and were therefore regarded treated as stolen property. This industry came to an end in about the 3rd century BCE. 

 

• Continue along the footpath in the direction of Parking Lot B, and you will come to the "Bathtub Cave" (#4) and the *Oil Press Cave (#5).

 

Olive oil production was another important industry in this area in that the climate of the Judean Lowlands was very favorable for the growing of olive trees. This cave would have been a busy one for the 3 months of the harvesting period. This particular olive press from the Hellenistic period is reconstructed. The olives were first crushed in a mill, since the olive pits were also a source of oil. This involved a round basin with a crushing stone that revolved around the basin. The first oil could be dripped from this mush. The mush was then placed in straw baskets and about 10 baskets at a time were pressed by attaching weights to the far end of the beam.

 

• Continue on the footpath to *The Villa (#6).

 

This home is a partially reconstructed 2-storied villa from the Hellenistic period. The walls were plastered in the modern period to prevent the soft chalk walls from weathering. Beneath the home are deep cisterns and a quarry and these can be visited. There are also steps to what would have been a second story.

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• After leaving the villa, you will immediately come to a fork. The left-hand fork leads to the top of the tel, although it may be blocked off. If this is the case, go to Parking Lot B and take the path from there to the top of the tel, going around the white gate and following the sign to Tel Maresha. It is worth visiting for the view.

 

To orientate you - Route 35 is to your north. To the east are the Judean Mountains, and to the west the coastal plain. In this direction, you can make out the tall buildings of Kiryat Gat, which is also in the Sh’felah.

 

• Go back to the parking lot from the tel and continue on the gravel path marked by a sign Continuation of Route. You will soon come to the *Maze Cave (#7).

 

The Maze Cave was constructed in the Hellenistic period and once had dwellings above it. Within the interconnected maze are cisterns, a quarry, columbarium, bathing chamber and olive press. In Hellenistic Maresha, the rooms would not have been so interconnected.

 

• Go to the path at the far end of this area, which is signposted to The Sidonian Caves. This path will lead you to the main park road. There is a sign Parking Lot C, Sidonian Caves and Visitor Service Center.

 

There are restrooms, plenty of picnic tables and a gift shop in this area that sells hot and cold drinks and snacks.

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• A path at the far end of the courtyard leads to the left and is signposted to the burial cave *Appolophanes Cave (#8). Appolophanes was a leader of the Sidonian community in Maresha.

 

The burial caves consist of a central hall with benches and above these are niches. The deceased was laid in the niche and the bones later collected and placed together with other members of the family in a special depository. This custom of bone collection was also part of the Jewish tradition. Burial in niches continued until the end of the Hellenistic and early Roman periods.

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​ The niche facing you as you enter was carved in the form of a Greek temple. All the paintings are reconstructions from drawings after the tombs were plundered in the early 1900s. Other images painted in the tomb include a war elephant, giraffe, wild boar, rhinoceros, crocodile, hippopotamus and mythical creatures. such as a griffon and bearded lion. It is likely that the artist had never seen many of these animals.

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• Continue on the footpath past the Sidonian cave to the remains of St Anne's church (#10). The path is more uneven but is relatively easy.

 

This large church dedicated to the mother of Jesus’ mother was built during the Byzantine period and restored during the Crusader period, although on a smaller scale. The large apse (semicircular hall) is very apparent.

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• Continue walking on the footpath until you come to an unpaved vehicular road. Cross this and go through the grey gate. The footpath will lead you to the *Bell Caves (#12). There are restrooms here.

 

• From the restroom area, continue on the path ahead. Take the first left turning to the northern quarries.

 

These caves located on the outskirts of the ancient city of Beit Guvrin were a series of quarries, and are worth visiting because of their beauty. A shaft was first cut through the harder rock (nari) to a depth of about 3 meters to reach the soft chalk layer beneath. Blocks of rock were then removed with ropes through the shaft. These quarries were begun in the Byzantine period and reached their peak use during the early Islamic period. The chalk rocks were used in building construction and for making lime. In the Islamic period they were used to construct building in Ramla.

 

• After visiting the Bell Caves, you can in theory walk along the main park road to the Roman amphitheater on the other side of route 35. However, you will be getting further from your car. It is suggested, therefore, to return to Parking Lot A and to go to the amphitheater by car along Route 35. The walk back to your car has no signs, so use the instructions here together with the map in the brochure.

 

• Walk back along the footpath which you came along to the gate. Turn right on this vehicular road. This will bring you to a T-junction with the main circular road of the park. Turn left. Continue along this road until the first intersection on your right. Turn along this paved road which is blocked to traffic. This will bring you again to the main circular road of the park at a T-junction. Turn right and this will lead you directly to Parking Lot A and your car after a short distance.  

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