Arma Veirana 2022 Season Post 7: Caves and Beaches

 Arene Candide

We had the privelege of touring a significant archaeological site near Finale Ligure yesterday. Arene Candide is a remarkable cave with a 10 meter thick sequence of excavated sediment revealing artifacts and human remains from the Paleolithic to the Roman periods. After parking at the nearby train station, we hiked to the mouth of cave where our tour guide awaited us. We were shown throughout the excavated areas of the cave by a well-informed Italian guide. She explained the excavation methods utilized by archaeologists working within the cave, the various stratigraphic layers throughout the dig site, the different time periods in which artifacts and skeletal material were discovered, and the archaeological significance of the site in understanding the peopling of the Mediterranean in the Pleistocene and early Holocene.

One of the most distinctive finds from Arene Candide is "the Prince", the 30,000 year-old burial of a 15 or 16 year-old male. "The Prince" is aptly named due to the rich grave goods interred with him, such as hundreds of perforated shells and deer canines (see the museum website page here). 

Group photo at the mouth of the cave (from left to right: Ari, Lia, Sarah, Caitlin, Kyle, Alex, Babalola)


Ari and Lia pointing to the location within the cave that "the Prince" was discovered

Incredible views of the coast hiking up to Arene Candide

Beach Day!

On Tuesday we took a day off and treated ourself to some much needed Vitamin Sea along the Italian coast near Loano. We found a beach with enough chairs available for all of us, dropped our towels, and ran into the Mediterranean. The refreshingly cool salt water was just what we needed to feel rejuvenated. After some ice cream and dozing, we were ready to return to lab work the next day. 

Palm trees line the streets of Loano

The beaches along the coast here tend to be divided into separate zones. Beach chairs and umbrellas are included in your entry fee along with showers, bathrooms, and concession stands. 


Ciao!

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