The Natufian Culture of the Southern Levant

The Natufian Culture (around 12,500 to 9,500 BCE) was a late Epipaleolithic society in the Southern Levant, marking a transition from nomadic foraging to settled life. They cultivated wild grains, gathered foods, and built semi-permanent villages, indicating early steps toward agriculture. The Natufians developed sophisticated tool technology and social structures, with evidence of burial practices and communal living. Their innovations laid the groundwork for the Neolithic Revolution, influencing the eventual development of farming and complex societies in the region.