Franchthi Cave

Franchthi Cave overlooks the Bay of Argos in Greece and contains evidence of human occupation spanning roughly 38,000 years. This incredible sequence covers the Upper Paleolithic through the Neolithic periods without major interruption. It provides one of the most complete records of prehistoric human activity in southeastern Europe.

Excavations at the site revealed a clear transition from a hunter-gatherer subsistence to early farming and animal husbandry. Around 7000 BCE, remains of domesticated wheat, barley, sheep, and goats begin to appear in the cave's deposits. This shift marks the arrival of the Neolithic agricultural revolution in Greece.

Yes, archaeological evidence shows that the occupants were skilled seafarers who regularly caught deep-water fish like tuna. They also imported obsidian tools from the island of Melos. This proves they had maritime navigation capabilities tens of thousands of years before the Neolithic period.

When the cave was first occupied during the Paleolithic, the coastline was several miles away due to lower global sea levels. As the last ice age ended and glaciers melted, the sea level rose significantly. Today, the cave entrance sits directly on the shore of the Bay of Argos.