Grotta di Lamalunga, Höhle in Apulien, Italien
The Grotta di Lamalunga is a cave near Altamura in Italy that houses the fossil remains of a prehistoric human. Inside the cave, visitors can observe bone fragments and natural limestone formations that developed over thousands of years.
The cave was discovered in the 1990s and contains remains of a hominid from approximately 250,000 years ago. The findings show characteristics between Homo erectus and early Neanderthals, making them crucial for understanding human evolution in Europe.
The cave takes its name from the local area and represents a deep connection to human origins for visitors and residents alike. Today it serves as a place where people can physically encounter evidence of early human life and understand how this region was inhabited thousands of years ago.
Access to the cave involves a steep descent of about 33 feet (10 meters), followed by a walk of about 200 feet (60 meters) through the karst cavities. Wearing comfortable shoes is important, and it is recommended to check opening hours beforehand as they vary by season.
The skeleton known as the 'Man of Altamura' is remarkably well preserved and displays a mixture of archaic and modern features. This makes it a rare example of the transition phase between different human species and one of the most valuable fossils for understanding our evolutionary history.
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