Σπήλαιον Φράγχθι (in Greek) | |
 Entrance to Franchthi Cave seen from Koilada | |
  Shown within Peloponnese  Franchthi Cave (Greece) | |
| Alternative name | Frankhthi Cave |
|---|---|
| Location | Koilada, Argolis, Greece |
| Region | Argolis |
| Coordinates | 37°25′24″N 23°07′56″E / 37.42333°N 23.13222°E |
| History | |
| Periods | Paleolithic to Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | yes |
Franchthi Cave or Frankhthi Cave (Greek: Σπήλαιον Φράγχθι) is an archaeological site overlooking Kiladha Bay, in the Argolic Gulf, opposite the village of Kiladha in southeastern Argolis, Greece.
Humans first occupied the cave during the Upper Paleolithic, appearing around 38,000BC (and possibly earlier.)[1] Groups continued to live in or seasonally visit the cave throughout the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras, with occasional short episodes of apparent abandonment.[2] Last occupied around 3,000 BC (Final Neolithic), Franchthi was used as a shelter for around 35,000 years and is one of the most thoroughly studied sites from the stone age in Southeast Europe.[3]
- ^ Douka, K.; Perles, C.; Valladas, H.; Vanhaeren, M.; Hedges, R.E.M (2011). "Franchthi Cave revisited: the age of the Aurignacian in south-eastern Europe". Academia.
- ^ Mary C. Stiner, Natalie D. Munro (2011) "On the evolution of diet and landscape during the Upper Paleolithic through Mesolithic at Franchthi Cave (Peloponnese, Greece)", Journal of Human Evolution p.619
- ^ K. Douka, C. Perles, H. Valladas, M. Vanhaeren, R.E.M. Hedges, (2011) p. 1133