Complex of prehistoric caves and museum. The caves open at the foot of a dolomitic limestone rock face; the place name derives from the surface reddening of the rock (in the local dialect Baussi Russi meaning red rocks). Over the millennia, large deposits rich in faunal remains and stone tools produced by Paleolithic humans who frequented and inhabited the area between 230,000 and 10,000 years ago have accumulated in and around the seven rocks. When, around the middle of the last century, the scientific problem of human origins began to be addressed, the Balzi Rossi caves were identified as a privileged research site and acquired a prominent position among Paleolithic sites worldwide. In the following years, quarrying work led to the discovery of prehistoric finds of exceptional interest, such as the famous triple burial, which inspired the English patron Sir Thomas Hanbury to build the Museum in 1898, which for many years remained as originally conceived, a simple complement to the visit to the Barma Grande, within which two Paleolithic burials and elephant remains were preserved in situ. During World War II, serious damage was caused to the Paleolithic artifacts and exhibition structures: the Museum, acquired by the State, was reopened only in 1955. The current setup, completed in 1994 thanks to the expansion of the exhibition spaces obtained with the construction of the new museum building, is part of an integrated visiting route of the Museum and archaeological area. From the new large hall, illustrating the history of research at Balzi Rossi, visitors proceed to tour the Caviglione and Florestano caves and the Mochi Shelter and to view the presentation of the most recent excavations across two floors of the completely renovated old museum building. At the back of the new structure, the stratigraphy encountered during the works is still visible, having been excavated by the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage of Liguria in collaboration with M. Cremaschi (1990-1992).
Information on the Prehistoric Museum of the “Balzi Rossi” and Archaeological Area
Via Balzi Rossi, 9
18039 Ventimiglia (Imperia)
018438113
https://www.archeoge.beniculturali.it
Source: MIBACT
