{"id":17329,"date":"2024-05-29T07:47:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T07:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topsecretsicily.com\/uncategorized\/grotta-di-san-teodoro-dive-into-prehistory\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T13:57:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T13:57:02","slug":"grotta-di-san-teodoro-dive-into-prehistory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topsecretsicily.com\/en\/province-of-messina\/grotta-di-san-teodoro-dive-into-prehistory\/","title":{"rendered":"Grotta di San Teodoro – Dive into prehistory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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At about 140 meters above sea level, after a not very challenging route, surrounded by the beautiful Mediterranean scrub, you reach St. Theodore’s Cave. The latter was inhabited by early man in the period from 12,000 to 8,000 B.C.<\/strong>. The remains of Paleolithic Sicilian burials and bones of now-extinct prehistoric animals, such as the dwarf elephant<\/strong>, were found here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bodies were buried inside the caves in a supine position or on the side, surrounded by animal bones and various ornaments. The most important find is that of Thea<\/strong> (From the name of the San Teodoro cave), a woman about 30 years old, 165cm tall, whose bones have remained perfectly preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Thea
Thea – San Teodoro Cave – Source: Prolocoacquedolci.it<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are also many bone and fossil finds of animals such as wild boar, hyena, deer, hippo, dwarf elephant and bear<\/strong>. All prehistoric ancestors of modern day animals. At the time they lived around the cave of St. Theodore, which was surrounded by a forest of oak and maple trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cave
Cave of San Teodoro – Aquedolci<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just outside the cave, where a lake basin once stood, you will be able to see for yourself some of such finds, especially fossils of hippos<\/strong>. These remains have been preserved so well for thousands of years, thanks precisely to the lake, which has guarded and protected them<\/strong> with its sediments. We hope that the Sicilian Region will decide to preserve these finds as they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fossil remains near the ancient lake – Source: Prolocoacquedolci.it<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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