Balzi Rossi

The Balzi Rossi caves (Ligurian: baussi rossi "red rocks") in Ventimiglia comune, Liguria, Italy, is one of the most important archaeological sites of the early Upper Paleolithic in Western Europe.

Constance Fenimore Woolson visited in 1880 the Cavillon cave overlooking the via Julia Augusta and presented an account, in her travel piece "At Mentone", of the discovery in the Balzi Rossi caves of a prehistoric skeleton and culture. It has been continually excavated by archaeologists for more than 150 years.

Riparo Mochi remains evidence for the earliest presence of modern humans in Europe (early Aurignacian, 35,000 years ago). Grimaldi Man (Gravettian, c. 25,000 years) Venus figurines of Balzi Rossi (Gravettian, c. 22,000 years)