Šandalja Caves near Pula: oldest findings of prehistoric men and oldest tools in Croatia

In the vicinity of Pula, around 6 km in the northeast, close to OKPD Valtura in the base of Šandalja hill (San Daniel), there is archaeological and paleontological site that is consisted of numerous caves: Šandalja I and Šandalja II.

Šandalja Caves near Pula photo gallery

There is also a quarry nearby. During the works in the quarry, this caves were discovered, and after further diggings supervised by Mirko Malez in 1961 and 1962, prehistoric man of Cro-Magnon type were found (Homo sapiens fossils), along with a stone artefact „chopper“, which is estimated to be over 800000 years old. The findings are supposedly the oldest prehistoric man remains and tools found in Croatia, and maybe even whole Europe. Unfortunately, the site is now abandoned and in danger from the works in nearby quarry.