Grotta di Santa Croce
Prehistoric karst cave near Bisceglie, with human traces from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age and the find site of a Neanderthal femur; visits on announced dates.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Grotta di Santa Croce is a karst cave shaped by erosion from an ancient underground watercourse. It preserves traces of human presence from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. It was discovered in 1934 by Francesco Saverio Majellaro of Bisceglie; in 1955 a Neanderthal femur was found there, alongside numerous remains of prehistoric animals and Neolithic stone tools.
After Majellaro's death in 1957 the cave was abandoned and suffered acts of vandalism. In 1975 the Gruppo Scout di Bisceglie began restoring the site, which has been open to the public since 1990 thanks to an entrance gate and an electrical system, realised with support from the municipality and the Soprintendenza Archeologica della Puglia (Archaeological Heritage Authority of Apulia).
In 1997 the Università di Siena carried out excavations that brought to light a Neolithic mat. Today the site is looked after by volunteers of the Gruppo Scout: the visit includes panels on human evolution, Byzantine crosses carved into the rock, and replicas of the Neanderthal femur and the Neolithic mat. Since 2015 a new outdoor museum route has also been available.
Highlights
- Karst cave with human presence from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age
- Site where a Neanderthal femur was found (1955)
- Replicas of the femur and the Neolithic mat
- Byzantine crosses carved into the rock
- Outdoor museum route and prehistory workshops for schools
Permanent exhibition
- Visita alla grotta e percorso esterno – Educational archaeological route with panels on human evolution, Byzantine crosses carved into the rock and replicas of the Neanderthal femur and the Neolithic mat, plus an outdoor museum route.
- Operated by
- Gruppo Scout di Bisceglie
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
For schools, the programme “Tutto Neanderthal” includes a visit to the cave, a presentation of prehistoric weapons and clothing, clay working, fire-making with flint stones and with a bow drill, flint knapping, making jewellery and a visit to the La Chianca dolmen.
Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visits are led by volunteers of the Gruppo Scout. Bookings can be made via the form on the Contact page of the website, or by phone or email. The ISPRA entry states that the cave may not be accessible at certain times. |
