Grotta di San Teodoro, Archaeological cave in Acquedolci, Italy
The Grotta di San Teodoro is a natural limestone cave with considerable size that was formed inside a hillside near Pizzo Castellaro. It contains human skeletons and skulls from the Stone Age along with remains of large animals.
The site became known through scientific excavations in the middle of the 19th century, when researchers started to systematically examine the layers of the cave. These early works laid the foundation for our present knowledge about human and animal life in prehistoric Sicily.
The cave shows how early Sicilians buried their dead and used the interior space for this purpose. This burial site speaks to how people lived in this region long before recorded history.
The cave lies a short distance outside the village of Acquedolci in a hilly area, situated on an elevated plateau. Entry is usually free, but it is best to check in advance about opening hours and current visit conditions.
The cave is known for fossils of extinct dwarf elephants that show how large animals changed over thousands of years on islands. These findings are important because they offer rare examples of evolution in island environments.
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