Grotta del Romito | |
 Romito Cave | |
  location in Italy  Romito Cave (Italy) | |
| Location | near Papasidero, |
|---|---|
| Region | Province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy |
| Coordinates | 39°54′40″N 15°55′45″E / 39.91111°N 15.92917°E |
| Type | limestone karst |
| Part of | Pollino National Park |
| Length | 54 m (177 ft) |
| Height | 4 m |
| History | |
| Material | Jurassic limestone |
| Periods | late Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, since 17,000 years BP |
| Associated with | Paleo-humans |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1962, 1971 |
| Archaeologists | Paolo Graziosi |
| Public access | yes |
The Romito cave (Italian: Grotta del Romito) is a natural limestone cave in the Lao Valley of Pollino National Park, near the town of Papasidero in Calabria, Italy. Stratigraphic record of the first excavation confirmed prolonged paleo-human occupation during the Upper Paleolithic from 17,000 years ago and the Neolithic from 6,400 years ago. A single, but exquisite piece of Upper Paleolithic parietal rock engraving was documented. Several burial sites of varying age were initially discovered. Irregularly recurring sessions have led to additional finds, which suggests future excavation work.[1] Notable is the amount of accumulated data that has revealed deeper understanding of prehistoric daily life, the remarkable quality of the rock carvings and the burial named Romito 2, who exhibits features of pathological skeletal conditions (dwarfism).
- ^ "THE "ROMITO" CAVE-SHELTER" (PDF). GIUSEPPE CONTE. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.