The cavemen of Yemen [Archives:2006/946/Last Page]
May 15 2006
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Before one depicts the various aspects of life for the Cavemen of Yemen, it is necessary to take a glimpse at the geographical features of those areas chosen especially by those cavemen as their dwelling places. The area is namely the highest mountainous summit of Maswar Al-Mantab, situated to the south of the Haja Governorate, and surrounded by Al-Sharaqi, Nagra and Al-Shaghadera mountains.
Fort Al-Mantab is located at the peak of the mountain's range that averages a height of about 3000 m., above sea level. The Fort is embraced by many large valleys; to the south there is Layed Valley through which smaller valleys pour their waters into the Eyal Ali, Al-Sarebi, Attwa, and Bani Al-Awwam valleys. To the north of the Fort other valleys like Sharas, Al-Sharqi and Bani Mahdi are noteworthy as well; where streams of water flow along the way towards the Moor Valley to the north of Hodeidah.
The mountains of Maswar Al-Mantab are partially separated by valleys, agricultural areas, water streams and other watercourses that cut through the rocks, supplying water to the caves nearby. These mountains are considered an important historical site in Yemen where one can observe small water streams and waterfalls throughout the area. The mountain has a peak wide enough to embrace several villages and water reservoirs ensuring constant water access to its residents.
The Fort of Al-Mantab is referred to by the great Yemeni historian Abu Alaskan Almandine as the “Tukhla Mountain” and can only be reached through three gates. In that well protected and fortified peak, nature's beauty and mankind's greatness mix in attractive harmony luring visitors to the area.
A live snap shot of the scenery in this area acquaints you with the type of life the cave dwellers lead. The Okban, Hood, Al-Sabbahi, Al Mokbel and Suhuf cave are collectively located as particular residential areas. These cave dwellings are a normal part of the daily life of the civilians of the region.
Superficially, one may think these people are but a minority of those who arrived in the area long ago as outsiders and therefore were secluded from the mayor group. In actuality these cave dwellers are highborn people said to be descendents of the Sabaeen. Most of the Sheikhs and tribal leaders have taken the caves as their ruling residence. From here official decisions are dispensed on the day to day problems and disputes of the neighboring villages and their inhabitants.
To this date taking caves as homes is still considered a tribal inheritance passed over to the new generations from their ancestors. Their belief in abiding by these traditional thoughts has been deeply-rooted into their culture and has become an integral and essential part of their personalities.
In recent times life in the caves has been adapted for more stable living conditions. The caves have been widened and sub-divided from within to meet the needs of the dwelling family members. Water is now supplied to the caves through canals cutting through the rocks of the mountains.
The residents of the caves are a cooperative people and owners of vast agricultural lands. Men and women, as well as some children, are mostly working on farms and grazing their livestock. The cultivated crops are stored in special barns built into the rock formations nearby their caves. Similarly they also store the fodder of their livestock in these barns.
Cave dwellers are leading normal lives. For example, according to their social norms cave women may marry non-cave dwellers as there is no tribal convention prohibiting that right. Children also are not deprived of their right to education. On the contrary, many of the cave dwelling children are enrolling in schools and the institutes nearby their residences.
An interesting anecdotal event took place in this area in 1984. As a result of landslides that struck the territory, government officials rushed to offer aid to those who had lost their caves. The offer was to build a modern residential camp for them. The cave dwellers felt, at first, obliged to leave their damaged caves and live temporarily in the newly-built houses. But as soon as they could retrieve their power, they went on to repair their own caves and leave behind the “movement” of government granted homes they could not adapt themselves to live in.
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