Gerani Cave: Once a Dwelling!

Gerani Cave is situated 7 kilometres west of Rethymno, along the north coast of Crete, in Kyani Akti.

Discovered by chance in 1969 during the construction of a new highway, Gerani Cave's current entrance was not the original one. Instead, it was created by the explosives used to clear the road. The original entrance was unearthed during subsequent excavations and was found to have been enclosed by rocks before the conclusion of the late Neolithic period.

Due to these circumstances, unlike other caves in Crete, Gerani Cave does not contain evidence from the final and transitional Neolithic periods, nor from the Minoan period. 

The cave served as a dwelling intermittently throughout the year, probably in conjunction with agricultural activities, animal husbandry, and possibly fishing. Additionally, inhabitants engaged in the production of stone and bone tools, primarily crafted from hare, rabbit, pig, and goat bones.

Info: Region of Crete