Fumane Cave

The cave contains rich evidence of three prehistoric hominid cultures: Mousterian, Uluzzian and Aurignacian.

[7] The older stone tools were created using the Levallois technique, while the newer flakes and cores were made using the centripetal method.

[9] Uluzzian is only present in the A3 layer, and the faunal assemblage is dominated by two species: red deer at 29.5% and ibex at 20.3%.

Microscopic analysis revealed a dark red substance, identified as hematite, was found smeared across the outer surface of the shell.

In a late Mousterian layer, a retouched bone shaft was found, modified through direct percussion.

This transfer of knowledge from flint knapping usually implies a lack of raw lithic material, which wasn't the case for the Fumane Neanderthals.

[3] A number of avian bones found in the final Mousterian layer show signs of modification (cuts, scrapes, peeling), which do not serve feeding or utilitarian purposes.

It seems that Neanderthals removed large feathers from a number of different birds, which could be linked to some form of symbolic behavior.

[14] Stone slabs bearing images of a four-legged animal and a half-human, half-animal figure were discovered during the excavation of the cave.

As they were embedded in the sediment, they could be dated to between 32 and 36 500 BP, which would make them contemporary to the Chauvet Cave paintings.

The excavation site of Fumane cave
Retouched proto-Aurignacian bladelets from Fumane