Caves of Marineo in Licodia Eubea
The Caves of Marineo are a complex of caves seat of an anonymous Sicilian-Hellenized center, located along the ridge of the hilly chain of the Marineo district. ", Neolithic age: 5000-4300 BC, up to the painted ceramic flabelli of Cassibile and the late-geometric one of the facies of" Licodia Eubea ", VIII-VI century BC ..
Of particular value are the rock engravings found on all three walls of one of the caves. The most significant and recurring representations are solar symbols, with the sun wheel with straight spokes, together with other engraved signs to be interpreted as highly stylized human figures. A single figure of a bovine is rendered in a realistic way.
In the same cave, on the back wall, there is the mouth of a spring and traces of channeling are still visible on the floor. These elements have led to the hypothesis that the cave was an ancient place of worship linked to the divinity of the sun, a cult present during the Copper Age.
The set of symbols and styles has suggested that the cave was frequented from the Middle Neolithic to the protohistoric age.
The mountain that houses these caves is also rich in Messinian shells dating back to 5,000,000 years ago.
