The excavations carried out in 2013-2014 in the area in front of the ancient entrance to the cavern to investigate the nature and extent of the phases preceding the collapse that occupies it, raised a series of questions on the dynamics of the latter’s formation and development of the underground complex itself.
As the 2014 excavations were badly affected by the flooding on the Gargano peninsula, in 2015 it was decided to continue with the previously established objectives with the aim of checking the suggested interpretation of the complex. Therefore, the trench inside the upper chamber was enlarged in order to check the relationship with the large fan of debris created by a landslide and to check the charcoal levels identified in 2013, which are thought to be extensive in the more “practicable” part of the cavern. In fact, this part presents a sub-level morphology, similar to a terrace (artificial?) coinciding with the point where the vault is highest (c. 2 m). A sondage was opened transversely to the one opened in 2013, which exposed a complex deposit characterised by charcoally lenses alternating with layers of ash in which numerous remains of human bones were identified and excavated.

The trench excavated in the 1970s/80s was reopened. In addition, exposing the bedrock in which there is a previously documented narrow cleft made it possible to check the dynamics that led to the partial closure of the cavern. Indeed, a profile of large blocks, with one very smoothed and eroded side was uncovered precisely along the south front of the rock bank, probably part of the ancient vault of the entrance.

This confirmed the suggestion made in previous years, based on the observation of the internal stratigraphy, that the grotto was a large shelter that was easily entered. It was only later that this entrance became difficult to use due to the collapse of the vault, until it was finally blocked in the early medieval period.
Among this year’s finds, there was a large green stone ring, certainly relating to an artefact from a burial.