Scurati
The Scurati Caves: a prehistoric treasure in Sicily
If you find yourself in or near Trapani, you can't miss a visit to the Scurati Caves, an ancient prehistoric settlement that includes nine caves where traces of human presence dating back to the Upper Paleolithic have been found.
The excavations
The first archaeological studies date back to 1870 when Marquis Guido Dalla Rosa became interested in the area. Later, in 1925, the French paleontologist Raymond Vaufrey deepened the studies, finding flint tools and graffiti that showed the presence of humans in the Upper Paleolithic.
The latest excavations were carried out by the Soprintendenza of Cultural Heritage of Trapani under the direction of Sebastiano Tusa.
The caves
The Scurati Caves are nine, some of which are located within the Monte Cofano oriented nature reserve. Among the most important are the Mangiapane, named after the family who lived there until the 1950s, and the Rumena, defined by Raymond Vaufrey as one of the most beautiful in the region.
Mangiapane Cave
The Mangiapane Cave is the largest, about 70 meters high, 13 meters wide, and 50 meters deep. It is also called the Uffizi Cave. In the 1950s, the cave belonged to the Mangiapane family, and an archaeological excavation conducted in 2004 revealed the presence of prehistoric Neolithic and Middle pottery.
The Mangiapane II, located one hundred meters further west, has instead yielded lithic flint artifacts from the end of the Upper Paleolithic and pottery from the Middle Bronze Age. An episode of the famous TV series "Inspector Montalbano" was also filmed in the cave.
The living nativity scene
Since 1983, during the Christmas season, the "Living Nativity Scene of Custonaci - The Nativity and Traditional Crafts" has been held. It is an event that involves all the inhabitants of the town, with about 160 people reliving the peasant and artisanal traditions of the area. The event was recognized in 2006 in the Intangible Heritage Register of Sicily.
Rumena Cave
The Rumena Cave, located in the homonymous district, was explored by Raymond Vaufrey in 1925. Inside, numerous concretions and various types of flint were found. The cave has a room shaped like an oven, about 3 meters wide and 13 meters deep.
The Scurati Caves represent a real treasure of Sicilian prehistory, and the visit is an unmissable experience for all tourists who want to discover the history and natural beauty of the area.
