An immense mystery older than Stonehenge

[Warpy]

15. I can't imagine caves were more than temporary shelter

They're dark, dank, and likely to be occupied by something that eats people. Oh, and they're full of toxic bat guano. Not good for long term living.

Cave burials, on the other hand, seem to have been more common use.

People seem to have gone more for large rock overhangs than deep caves. They weren't dank or dark, there wasn't much guano to make them sick, they allowed smoke to escape easily while giving protection from rain, and they could easily see if something else was already living there.

I vaguely remember that's how the Natufian culture was found,