The Cave of Manaccora, Monte Gargano. Part II: the Contents of the Three Archaeological Strata

Stratum III occurred in the Triangle, the two St trenches, in the Annexe, in the Funerary Cleft, and in the entrance of the main cavern. In the back of the main cavern it began at a depth of about 1·25 m. below the surface, and had an average depth of about 1.25 m., which is as extensive as stratum II and I together. In the Annexe it continued to 4·50 m. In the main cavern, stratum III was a compact mixture of sherds with lightly coloured soil, mostly sand, ashes, and disintegrated limestone. Among the very numerous sherds we found some handmills, bone tools, spindle whorls, and loom-weights, but only one formless piece of metal, apart from what was buried with the dead, though there were plenty of whetstones. The only recognisable features among this amorphous mass were the hearths. They had been built of clay, which must have come from somewhere outside the cavern, laid carefully over a layer of pebbles. This indicates that they were not used merely once to serve a casual need, and confirms the use of Manaccora as a dwelling place. Several hearths existed at the same time, which makes it likely that more than one family made use of the cavern. That would account for the quantity of material found, and would be in keeping with modern usage of Monte Gargano, where to live in a cave is still quite common. A smaller cave adjoining Manaccora was inhabited during our excavation.