The Franchthi or Frankithi cave is a prehistoric site in the Greek Peloponnese. The cave shows occupation from the epipalaeolithic c, 10,000 BC and, following a hiatus, it was reoccupied in the Mesolithic between 7500 and 6000 BC.
Obsidian items from the cave have been traced to the island of Melos 80 miles away by sea, which indicates that boats were used in the period. Around 5800 BC evidence of domesticated animals appears in the archaeological record at the cave.
Franchthi Cave is located in southeastern Argolid, across a small bay from the modern Greek village of Koilada.
The earliest burial found at Franchthi is of a Lower Mesolithic date: a 25-year-old male was buried in a contracted position in a shallow pit near the mouth of the cave.
The beginning of the Neolithic Period (6000 – 5000 B.C.) at Franchthi Cave is characterized by the appearance of domesticated forms of sheep and goat, and the appearance of domesticated forms of wheat, barley and lentil.
Feeds |
Contact