Following the recovery of a conspicuous number of bone finds during the previous three campaigns, the 2009 campaign, as well as continuing investigations in the area known as the “NE cavity”, also focused on sampling material suitable for C14 radiocarbon dating and on documenting the geomorphology of the area.

The reopening of this area led to the recovery of a large number of new finds, of particular interest for their very good state of preservation and the scientific importance of the species to which they belonged.

Of note the find of a bison neuro-cranium (n. 09.029) of notable dimensions and of other remains close to or in direct contact with the cranium and in close proximity to the alabastrine crust discovered in the previous year. A first phalanx of the bison (n. 09.066), found under the neuro-cranium, will be used for C14 dating. A complete cranium of microtinus (n. 09.067) was resting on the occipital bone of the bison neuro-cranium. Moreover, the recovery of a radius (n. 09.050) and metapodial (n. 09.049) of Hyaenidae was of great importance. This is the first example of remains from this species found in the fossiliferous deposits of Cava di Fila, and one of the few recovered in Emilia Romagna. The presence of the hyena, as well as the wolf, explains the presence of heavily gnawed bones.

A complete hare skeleton, still perfectly articulated, was found in area 1 zone B, the only complete skeleton recovered from this deposit since new excavations began in 2006.

The position of some of the finds (bison neuro-cranium n. 09.029, II phalanx of bison n. 09.065, II phalanx of bison n. 09.066, skeleton of lagomorph n. 09.061, sacrum of bison n. 09.069, sacrum of bison n. 09.080, femur fragment n. 09.081) was documented using a total station and inserted into the topographic plan of the area. A number of finds from the NE cavity were in a sub-vertical position, with the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the bones, with respect to horizontal, of 70-80 degrees (tibia n. 09.032, neuro-cranium with protrusions n. 09.029, coxa n. 09.033).