The Theopetra Cave is an archaeological site located in Meteora, in the central Greek region of Thessaly, Greece. Radiocarbon evidence indicates human presence at least 50,000 years ago. Excavations began in 1987 under the direction of Ν. Kyparissi-Apostolika, aimed at answering questions about Paleolithic Thessaly, Greece.
As a result of archaeological excavations conducted over the years, it has been revealed that Theopetra Cave has been occupied by humans as early as 130,000 years ago.
Furthermore, evidence for human habitation in Theopetra Cave can be traced without interruption from the Middle Palaeolithic to the end of the Neolithic period.
This is significant, as it allows archaeologists to have a better understanding of the prehistoric period in Greece.
Once upon a time, in the central Greek region of Thessaly, there was a cave named Theopetra, located just 4 km from Meteora. This cave is one of the most unique archaeological sites in the world because it has revealed many secrets about ancient human history. Theopetra Cave contains the oldest known man-made structure on Earth.
With its advantageous location, access to fresh water, and excellent vantage point, this cave was like a magnet for the early inhabitants. From afar, they could recognize these key benefits and decided to settle there continuously for more than 130,000 years.
What makes Theopetra Cave unique from an archaeological perspective is that it contains, within a single site, records of two highly significant cultural transitions: the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans and the later transition from hunter-gathering to farming after the last Ice Age.
The cave is a large rectangular chamber of 500 square meters at the foot of a limestone hill, with a large entrance 17 meters wide and 3 meters high. It lies at the foot of the Chasia mountain range, the natural boundary between Thessaly and Macedonia, with the Lithaios River, a tributary of the Pineios River, flowing in front of the cave. The small Lithaios River flowing literally at the cave’s doorstep provided easy access to fresh water without the need to travel long distances daily.
Systematic excavations have unearthed light geological deposits from the Pleistocene and Holocene periods, as well as anthropogenic deposits, indicating that the cave was continuously inhabited during the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods.
Specimens found, such as coal and human bones, prove that the cave was occupied from about 135,000 BC to 4000 BC, with temporary use continuing during the Bronze Age and historical times up to 1955. Even after that, the cave was occasionally used by shepherds to shelter their herds until the excavations began. It was the first time cave dwelling was recorded in Thessaly during the Palaeolithic period. The latest findings published in 2012 by the lead scientist and her team responsible for the excavations, Paleoanthropologist Dr. Ekaterini (Nina) Kyparissi-Apostolika, have pushed the cave’s dwelling records back to 135,000 BC.
Excavations brought to light three human footprints dated to approximately 135,000 years ago. The find consists of four human footprints in a row, believed to be from children aged 2 to 7. These children must have walked on the remnants of a fire that later became petrified, preserving the footprints to this day. The stratigraphic sequence of Theopetra Cave extends through three cold periods: during the Middle era around 25,000 BC, during the Upper Palaeolithic, and during the final Upper Palaeolithic period (end of the Pleistocene era).
Excavations and studies of the finds at Theopetra have been conducted since 1987 by the scientific research group of the Department of Paleoanthropology-Speleology, under the direction of Dr. Ekaterini (Nina) Kyparissi-Apostolika. Objects discovered in the cave include stone tools from the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods, as well as Neolithic pottery, bone and shell objects, skeletons from 15000, 9000, and 8000 BC, and traces of plants and seeds that reveal dietary habits.
In 2010, it was announced that an optical dating test known as Optically Stimulated Luminescence, applied to quartz grains nestled within a recently excavated stone wall, surprisingly revealed the oldest known man-made structure. The 23,000-year-old stone wall in front of Theopetra Cave, probably built to protect its residents from cold winds at the height of the last Ice Age, is the oldest known example of a man-made structure!
In conclusion, Theopetra Cave is not just a natural wonder but also a historical treasure, containing within it the first pages of human life. The findings here have helped us understand the evolution and development of humanity over thousands of years. This cave will forever remain a precious heritage of humankind.
