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27 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 2019

​Petralona Cave or "Red Stones"

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The Petralona cave,  also Cave of the Red Stone, a Karst formation – is located at 300 m above sea-level on the western foot of Mount Katsika, about 1 km east of the eponymous village, about 35 km south-east of Thessaloniki city on the Chalkidiki peninsula, Greece. The site came to public attention when in 1960 a fossilized archaic human skull was found. The cave had been discovered accidentally only a year earlier (1959) after erosion had left clefts in the rock. "Bejeweled" with impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations and holding an abundance of fossils, the cave soon attracted geologists and paleontologists. After decades of excavations the cave is open to the public and scientific work is documented and presented in an adjacent archaeological museum. The cave's most prominent fossil specimen, since known among paleoanthropologists as the "Petralona Skull"
The on-site Anthropological Museum of Petralona displays a selection of the cave's findings.
Apart from its unique natural beauty and its size, the cave also presents an important anthropological and palaeontological interest. In 1960, during the exploration work, the most important find - unique in Greece - was the skull of primitive man- also known as Archanthropus”, which is now at the University of Thessaloniki. Lived 200,000 years ago, he is in a transitional form, from Homo Erectus (Upright Man) to Homo Sapiens (Wise Man) and is the earliest evidence of the presence of man in Greece. The skull was covered with a thick layer of stalactite material. Fossilized bones from the area's fauna, including cave bears, hyenas, lions, panthers, rhinos, deer and equines, were also found. The bones, along with a host of stone and bone tools used by the primitive caveman, are displayed in the Palaeontological Museum, just a few steps away from the entrance to the cave.
The surveys continued until 1976. With the subsidy of the Greek National Tourism Organization and the care of the Hellenic Speleological Society, it opened for the public in 1979. It covers an area of ​​10,400 square meters, the length of its corridors reaches 2,000 meters and the temperature throughout over time remains stable at 17 ° C (± 1 ° C). It is located 800 meters from the homonymous settlement of Chalkidiki and is 50 km away from Polygyros, the capital of the prefecture, and 50 km from Thessaloniki.
Our day to trip to Petralona Cave starts in the morning. During our visit we will be guided through the Cave and the Archaeological Museum. We will have the chance to admire the impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations and the abundance of fossils. Our guide will explain you the history and all the details concerning the importance of Petralona Cave and its discoveries for Human History. We are allowed to visit 800m of the Cave and the temperature is always 17degrees! After our tour inside it we will continue our tour in the Archeological Museum, where we will be able to find more information and see ourselves all the discoveries so far. Our guide always at your disposal for any additional information!

Price: 20 € per person

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Email: [email protected]

Phone: +30 2310 55 55 56