Author Description

This volume contains the results of archaeological research carried out at Grotta Mora Cavorso, a fascinating cave in the still-pristine landscape of the Simbruini Mountains along the Upper Aniene River Valley, central Italy. The book is written by archaeologists for archaeologists, as well as for lovers of archaeology, history and speleology; it describes and critically discusses a wide range of scientific and anthropological analyses carried out over the last 15 years, while integrating them within the contemporary theoretical debate. The first of three volumes, it covers the Historic and Protohistoric periods of human occupation of the cave, revealing its complex and multi-layered use as a burial and ritual place, a possible monastic hermitage, stables and even a war refuge. This book serves to fill the gap in cave archaeology at both a local and wider geographical scale, while demonstrating the key importance of a previously neglected area, thus adding to the overall understanding of the use of caves in Mediterranean Europe.