Cave and the Riparo del Poggio

The Poggio complex, located on a limestone outcrop east of Marina di Camerota, is a fascinating testimony to human presence and historical and technological evolution in this area of Cilento. The site originally consisted of a single cave, now divided between the Cave and the Riparo del Poggio, the result of the separation between a smaller cavity that acted as a drainage tunnel and a huge cave.

Numerous lithic and faunal artifacts found at the site enable us to better understand the technological evolution of the ancient human groups of Neanderthal stock that frequented it between 200,000 and 40,000 years ago, and to reconstruct the climatic changes that occurred over time. From the oldest levels of the complex come remains of elephant, rhinoceros, and, remarkably, two human remains, a molar and an ankle bone.

The more recent layers of the site, on the other hand, have yielded interesting artifacts, such as points, blades and scrapers, attesting to Neanderthal Man's skill in stone chipping. The presence of these objects testifies to the complexity and variety of techniques used by the ancient people who lived in the area.

A visit to the Poggio complex thus offers an unforgettable immersion in the prehistoric history of the region and allows visitors to admire up close the unique artifacts that testified to the daily life and technical skills of the Neanderthals who inhabited these lands millennia ago.