Cuoléto de Nadale

Useful Information

Location:	Via Calto, 3, 36020 Zovencedo VI. (45.4212409, 11.4895858)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	A=80 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Alessandra Livraghi, Gabriele Fanfarillo, Maurizio Dal Colle, Matteo Romandini, Marco Peresani (2019): Neanderthal ecology and the exploitation of cervids and bovids at the onset of MIS4: A study on De Nadale cave, Italy, In: Quaternary International, 13. November 2019, pp. 1–18. DOI pdf Juan Manuel Lopéz Garcia, Alessandra Livraghi, Matteo Romandini, Marco Peresani (2018): Environmental and climatic reconstruction of the Neanderthal site of De Nadale cave (Zovencedo, Berici Hills, Northeastern Italy) through the small mammal assemblages (Abstract), In: Konferenzband zur 60. Jahrestagung der Hugo Obermaier Gesellschaft in Tarragona, Erlangen 2018, pp. 29–30. ISBN 978-3-946387-12-1 Julie Arnaud, Stefano Benazzi, Matteo Romandini, Alessandra Livraghi, Daniele Panetta, Piero A. Salvadori, Lisa Volpe, Marco Peresani (2017): A Neanderthal deciduous human molar with incipient carious infection from the Middle Palaeolithic De Nadale cave, Italy in: American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Vol. 162, Issue 2, 2017, pp. 370–376. DOI pdf
Address:	Cuoléto de Nadale, Via Calto, 3, 36020 Zovencedo VI, Tel: +39-0
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2006	G. Baruffato from the University of Ferrara finds several bones and stone tools in the field in front of the cave.
2014	excavations in the cave.

Description

Cuoléto de Nadale or Grotta de Nadale (De Nadale Cave) is quite famous, though its only local fame, and international fame among archaeologists. Neanderthal sites are few, and the remains are sparse. But this is one of the few sites. The small cave is a nice shelter, oriented towards south, thus quite sunny. It is a little above the valley, so it offers wind protection, rain protection, and an outlook to wait for prey. Nevertheless, it was only once a popular stop on hunting tours, in the time of the Neanderthals 70,000 years ago. And today it is famous among the locals as Neanderthal Cave.

G. Baruffato, an employee of the University of Ferrara, found several bones and stone tools in the field in front of the cave in 2006. The theory is that it had been brought to the surface by a digging badger. At this time, the cave was filled with sediment almost completely and could only be recognized as a small rock overhang. 2013 the excavations started with the removal of the upper soil horizon and further finds were uncovered. As a result an actual archaeological excavation was undertaken in 2014. Eight different layers were identified, but only layer 7 shows anthropogenic influences. It contained charcoal crumbs and a large number of bone fragments of large mammals such as giant deer, red deer, steppe bison, aurochs, ibex and chamois. Cave bear, wolf, red fox and various birds and small mammals are also present, but only in small numbers. The obvious interpretation is that they were brought in by man, in this cave Neanderthal man. If the bone had been deposited by animals entering the cave, they would not have been restricted to one level. This was supported by the fact that almost half of all bones show cutting and scraping marks. The bones were tools, which were used to work on flint tools. The age was determined by dating a bison tooth with Uranium Thorium. The result was 70.200 +1000/-900 BP.

Also, some Neanderthal remains were found, for example, a tooth. But like always, there is not much, most likely they did not use caves to bury their dead. But the age makes it clear, at that time there were only Neanderthals in Europe.

Today the cave is excavated and thus much bigger than 10 years ago. It was gated to protect the remaining sediments, nevertheless, it is possible to actually see the whole cave through the fence. It's a short walk uphill from Via Calto and a pretty short visit. In other words, the cave is not very spectacular, but the discovered results were quite important. We do not recommend driving there just to see the cave. But if you are already in the area, e.g. to see the quarries and cave houses, you should definitely spend half an hour to visit the cave. The cave has local fame, so there are several events at the cave every summer, unfortunately they are only in Italian.