Complesso of prehistoric caves and museum. The caves open at the foot of a dolomitic limestone rock face; the name of the location is due to the surface reddening of the rock (in the local dialect Baussi Russi meaning red rocks). In the seven rocks and outside of them, large deposits rich in faunal remains and stone artifacts made by Paleolithic humans who frequented and inhabited the area between 230,000 and 10,000 years ago have accumulated over the millennia. 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 gained prominence among Paleolithic sites worldwide. In the following years, quarrying work began, leading to the discovery of prehistoric finds of exceptional interest, such as the famous triple burial, which prompted the English patron Sir Thomas Hanbury to build the Museum in 1898. It remained for many years as it was originally conceived, a simple complement to the visit to the Barma Grande, inside which two Paleolithic burials and elephant remains were preserved in situ. During World War II, serious damage was caused to the Paleolithic finds 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 through the construction of the new museum building, is part of an integrated visiting path of the Museum and the archaeological area. From the new large hall, which illustrates the history of the research at Balzi Rossi, the visit continues to the caves of Caviglione and Florestano and the Mochi Shelter and the presentation of the most recent excavations, on the two floors of the old museum building fully renovated. At the back of the new construction, the stratigraphy encountered during the work and excavated by the Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Liguria with the collaboration of M. Cremaschi (1990-1992) is still visible.
Information about the “Balzi Rossi” Prehistoric Museum and archaeological area
Via Balzi Rossi, 9
18039 Ventimiglia (Imperia)
018438113
https://www.archeoge.beniculturali.it
Source: MIBACT
