Final answer:
The Neolithic peoples who lived around 9000 BCE in what is now Israel and Jordan are the ones who inhabited caves and rock shelters on Mount Carmel. They built organized communities and were among the earliest to practice agriculture and establish permanent settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eleven thousand years ago, the Neolithic peoples, a people living in what is now Israel and Jordan, inhabited caves and rock shelters and built villages on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Israel. These ancient societies represent some of the earliest known agricultural communities and permanent settlements in the world. During the Neolithic period, around 9000 BCE, significant cultural and technological advancements took place, including the development of farming and the establishment of large, complex settlements. While popular culture often refers to 'cave people,' it is more accurate to say that these prehistoric inhabitants often lived in rock shelters or outcrops, which offered protection from harsh weather conditions while being more accessible than caves. Part of why these Neolithic peoples are notable is their ability to build organized communities, such as the large settlement of circular homes discovered at the site of Jericho, which dates back to the early Neolithic era. Although they did use caves for various purposes, including as places of ritual and religious significance in the Upper Paleolithic, caves were not the primary dwelling places due to their dark and damp environments, where animals also often hibernated. Instead, Neolithic peoples created their settlements using materials such as mud brick and wood and fabricated shelters from animal skins and bones when more mobility was required.