Two sectors were investigated

The first was situated at about 26 m from the cave mouth and was characterised by a space that formed a small room and was defined as the “Saletta”. In the “Saletta”, quadrants AC28/ 3-4-4b, AB28/4-5b, AB27/5b-6 were explored. Two new Mousterian red jasper artefacts were found in AC 28/5b and AB27/6. In all the investigated sectors (AB27, AB28, AC28) a surface of 1 m2 was excavated.

The stratigraphy in the “Saletta” (levels investigated in 2012)

Lev. 4: 10-12 cm diameter clasts were present in the upper part, towards the bottom the size seemed to decrease. Brown clay matrix with aggregates up to 1 cm in diameter. Bones also present.

Lev. 4b: Situated at about 50 cm from metre 27, similar to level 3 but with slightly smaller clasts and a yellow clay matrix. It tends to “descend” towards the exterior of the cavern.

Lev. 5b: presented the same characteristics as those documented in 2003.

Lev. 6: A clay matrix with silt, containing clasts of 7-8 cm in diameter. Variable thickness, in metre 31 between 7-8 cm and 10-12 cm, thicker in metre 30. Pinkish in colour but can appear browner depending on the position.

The second sector was situated in the apical position of the “Sala Terminale”, immediately beyond the “Sifone”. Sectors R4-5, S4-5, T4-5-6 were investigated. In R and S level d was excavated to the cavern floor, where the fills in the irregular surface were defined as level e. The cavern floor was at about 1.5 m from ground level. In sector T excavation continued at level c, to then start on level d, where the 2012 campaign stopped.

The stratigraphy of the sector in the “Sala Terminale” beyond the “Sifone” (2012 levels)
c – Silty clay level, less malleable and containing more silt than both levels b and d.

d – Similar to level c but more malleable.

dl – Characterised by a greater number of clasts of one centimetre and above in the area towards sector Q close to the cavity wall, this may be the effect of the wall, which often modifies the matrix/clast relationship due to the crumbling of the wall itself produces clasts and greyish clay.

e – Fill of the irregular surface of the cave floor, characterised by crumbling Calcare di Moltrasio.