Enhancing the Palaeolithic: strategies and social involvement

Fifty years since the discovery, the Paleolithic site of the Fumane Cave (Grotta di Fumane, near Verona - Italy) is the focus of public attention thanks to a project of valorisation, across all the territory, aimed to create a network among private and public Institutions. The Fumane Cave is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe, of fundamental importance to study the lifestyle, economy, technology and the spirituality (symbolic behaviours) of the those ancient communities. Evidence from Fumane allows to investigate the birth of symbolic thought in Homo Sapiens in compared to the Neanderthal experience. Even though scientifically, and internationally, the Cave is very well known, its cultural heritage is still unknown for the bigger audience. On the other hand, the Lessini Mountains and the Valpolicella, are a district of excellence for the natural and cultural heritage, as is shown by the institution of the Lessinia Regional Park, a public Entity which manages a network of ethnograhic, geopaleonthologic and botanic centres.