Grotte du Cavillon, Prehistoric cave and archaeological site in Balzi Rossi, Italy
The Grotte du Cavillon is a limestone cave within the Balzi Rossi cliffs near the Mediterranean coast at the Italy-France border. Inside, visitors see layers of rock and sediment that hold human remains, stone implements, and carved objects from different periods of occupation.
The first excavation here began in 1846 under European aristocratic patronage and exposed layers of human activity spanning thousands of years. Subsequent digs throughout the following century added more knowledge about the site's occupation patterns and cultural development.
The name derives from a French word for hollow space. The stone tools and wall engravings visible here reveal how people understood and expressed their world during the Stone Age.
Access to the cave involves stairs and secured pathways with handrails through the rocky terrain. Wear sturdy shoes with good grip because the ground is uneven and often damp.
Small female figurines were found in different layers of the cave and represent an early period when people started to create small representations of human form. These pieces offer insight into how Stone Age people thought about the body and identity.
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