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24,000-Year-Old Ornamented Skull Unearthed in Italian Cave

cultural-heritage · 2026-06-29

On March 26, 1872, physician Émile Rivière excavated a 24,000-year-old skull in the Cavillon cave, northern Italy. The cranium was adorned with deer teeth and over three hundred perforated seashells, revealing prehistoric burial customs.

Key facts

  • Date: March 26, 1872
  • Excavator: Émile Rivière
  • Location: Cavillon cave, northern Italy
  • Age of skull: 24,000 years
  • Adornments: deer teeth and over 300 perforated seashells
  • Context: prehistoric burial customs

Entities

Locations

  • Cavillon cave
  • Italy

Sources