Cave of San Teodoro

The cave is on an escarpment modeled on Jurassic limestones that borders a large terrace tardopleistocnico whose inner edge, extends a lacustrine deposit characterized by remains of hippopotamus, dwarf elephant, hyena, deer, wild boar, bear, donkey. It was inhabited between 12,000 and 8,000 years BC. The uniqueness and importance of the cave is given by the discovery of the first Paleolithic burials Sicilian: five skulls and two exceptionally complete skeletons who first allowed a thorough knowledge of the ancients inhabitants of Sicily. The most important evidence is given by the discovery of the remains of a woman about 30 years old, 165 cm high. which it was given the name Thea. The site is accessible and usable from Monday to Saturday. For any information call this number: +39-0941-730005

The Cave of San Teodoro
140 meters above sea level on the rocky part of Pizzo Castellaro, about 2 km south-east of the town of Acquedolci. The Cave was inhabited by man approximately, between 12,000 and 8,000 years BC. The singularity and importance of the cave is given by the discovery of the first Paleolithic Sicilian burials: they are five skulls and two exceptionally complete skeletons that first allowed a thorough knowledge of the ancient inhabitants of Sicily.

The burial ritual consisted in the deposition of the deceased in a pit in a supine position or on the left side, surrounded by animal bones, pebbles and ornaments made of necklaces made with deer teeth. All the depositions were covered with a light layer of earth on top of which ochre (natural dye) was spread to form a thin layer. The most important testimony is given by the discovery of the fossil remains of a woman of about 30 years old, 165 cm high, to whom the name of Thea (from the Latin Theodora) has been attributed to connect it to that of the cave.

The cave owes this name to the Basilian monks who settled there around the year 1000 AD. The fossil remains found here are scattered all over the world from Australia to the American Museum of Natural History in New York to the Museo Gemellaro in Palermo. The trenches dug into the rock show the visitor some very interesting fossils and the site is practically the only one in Italy in the paleontological field to have covered and accessible trenches.