Vol.1 Number 3 Excavations at the Grotta dell'Edera in the Italian Karst A Study of Holocene Environmental Changes and Human Responses Barbara Voytek Grotta dell' Edera is one of over 100 caves that are located in the karst surrounding Trieste, Italy. The interesting history and cultural traditions of the karst are matched by the geological setting. Karst is a limestone terrain characterized by several geological features. Sinkholes or sinks are common in the landscape, as are small depressions known regionally as dolinas.
Surface water is scarce, but there are underground streams and rivers draining into the sea.
Some of the caves in this region are well-known for their Pleistocene record. For example, not far from Edera is the well known cave of Visogliano which has Middle Pleistocene fauna and lithic industries described by the excavator as 'Clactonian'. Grotta dell'Edera was first documented in 1969 during a detailed survey of the caves in this particular area of the karst. The majority of their finds were chipped stone tools, affiliated with Mesolithic and Epipaleolithic industries. Although all excavations had been systematically done and incorporated screening techniques, no attempt had been made to retrieve botanical or other samples for environmental reconstruction.