Cova Foradà

The karst cave is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of the village of Oliva,[3] at 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) from the coast of the Mediterranean, and archaeological excavations have taken place since 1977.[4] The cave is found in a low hill, one of a group of hills called the Muntanyetes de Oliva, the last part of the Serra de Mustalla before the floodplain that ends at the coast.[5] It has been occupied since the Middle Paleolithic, including in the Mousterian and Mesolithic periods, and in the Bronze Age.[2] Its environment was rich and varied, with mountains on one side and lagoons on the other.[3]

A maxilla (almost complete, with a number of teeth), a molar, a fibula, and four fragments of a cranium belonging to two humans were found between 2000 and 2003, in what appeared to be a layer from the Mousterian. All fragments except for the molar were from an adult, who died at between 35 and 45 years old; the molar was from a child of around 2.5 years old. The maxilla showed periodontal disease and heavy dental wear, which must have caused considerable pain; there was a significant gap (8.05 mm for the canine) between the teeth and the alveolar bone. The person attempted to alleviate the discomfort with a toothpick, as evidenced by two grooves on the distal surface of two of the remaining teeth: "the habit of using a tool to pick the teeth may be considered early evidence of medical treatment to alleviate sore gums".[2]

In 2010, in further excavations on the same spot where the maxilla was found, an almost complete skeleton of a Neanderthal was found, the most complete skeleton (with the bones still attached to the spine) ever found on the Iberian peninsula.[3]

In 2019, it was reported that archeologists found a necklace featuring eagle claws, which suggests symbolic purposes.[6]

Excavations have been led by José Aparicio Pérez, for the archaeological department of the Provincial Government of Valencia.[7]

• List of Neanderthal sites

• "Cova Forada de Oliva, Territorio Neandertal"