Paglicci Cave, Paleolithic cave in Rignano Garganico, Italy.
Paglicci Cave is a prehistoric site in Rignano Garganico with multiple chambers connected by natural passages and narrow corridors spreading across different levels. The limestone formations create a complex network of rooms that early humans inhabited and decorated over thousands of years.
Systematic excavations in the 1960s revealed that people lived in this cave during the early Stone Age, leaving behind evidence of their presence over many generations. The findings established this location as an important record of how prehistoric humans survived and settled in this region.
The cave holds paintings made by early people showing animals and geometric shapes on its walls, offering a direct view into their creative expression. You can walk past these artworks and sense how the inhabitants used this space to express themselves.
The cave can only be visited with a guide due to the narrow passages and archaeological sensitivity of the site. A museum located in the town of Rignano Garganico displays original artifacts and detailed explanations about what was discovered here.
The cave contains evidence of one of Italy's earliest domesticated dogs and an ancient grinding tool with plant residue showing how early humans prepared food. These findings offer rare insights into how Stone Age people lived alongside animals and used available plants.
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