Σπι&lambdaαιο Καστριτσα

Spilaio Kastritza - Kastritsa Cave


Useful Information

the cave at the road.
Location: Between Kastritza and Katsikas.
From Ioannina south to Anatoli and then Katsikas. In Katsikas turn left to Kastritza. After 3 km at the right side of the road.
From Perama follow road to Metsovo for 1 km, turn right, at Longades turn right to Kastritsa. At the turnoff to Kastritsa follow main road.
Open: no restricitions, archaeological excavations not accessible.
Fee: none
Classification: shelter, abri.
Light: not needed
Dimension: W=6 m, D=8 m, H=12 m.
Guided tours: n/a
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography: G. N. Bailey, C. Gamble and H. Higgs (1983): Asprochaliko and Kastritsa: Further Investigations of Palaeolithic Settlement and Economy in Epirus (Northwest Greece), Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 49, 1983, pp 15-42.
N. Galanidou, P.C. Tzedakis, I.T. Lawson, M.R. Frogley (2000): A revised chronological and palaeoenvironmental framework for the Kastritsa rockshelter, northwest Greece, Antiquity, 74, Number 284, June 2000, pp 349-355.
Galanidou and P.C. Tzedakis (2001): New AMS dates from Upper Palaeolithic Kastritsa, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 67, 2001.
Address:  
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

The cave is little more than an overhanging rock.
1966 excavations.
1967 excavations.

Description

Kastritsa is only a very small cave, just an overhanging rock, which was used as a shelter. But it was used intensively during 7,000 years, which resulted in eight meters of sediments dating from 22,000 to 15,000 BP.

The site was used as a hunting station during the summer. The prey was red deer, wild cattle and steppe ass (Equus asinus). During the Upper Paleolithic the place was used for a stone tool industry. The remains are half a million flaked stone tools.

The loacation of the cave was very good for the needs of Upper Paleolithic man. It was a shelter on the foot of Kastritza hill, which is very high and a very good landmark in the plains around Lake Pamvotis. The plains are fertile and a very good hunting ground and the lake nearby provides additional food.

The cave itself is not accessible today. There is a fence around the cave, which does not allow access to the archaeological site. But the small cave is very good to see from the fence.