GREECE THESSALY TRIKALA THEOPETRA

The finds of the Neolithic period suggest that during that time the cave was mostly used as a permanent dwelling place of some groups, while during the end of the Neolithic it was probably used for symbolic reasons as evidenced by certain artifacts from the Balkans that are products of exchange with other groups, and which have only been found in Theopetra among the Thessalian sites.

Above right: At the entrance of the cave is a stone wall, built to protect its residents from cold winds at the height of the last ice age. It was dated in 2010 by Optically Stimulated Luminescence to 23,000 BP (years before present) and thus is the oldest known man-made structure!

Above right and below: The ceiling of the cave.