Itinerary edited by UNIVERSITY OF FERRARA 
Since the fifties of the last century, several field excavations have been carried out in the caves and rock-shelters of the eastern slopes of the Berici Hills by the researchers of the University of Ferrara, bringing to light significant evidence of human occupation during the Last Glacial. An interdisciplinary approach has made possible to trace the climatic and environmental dynamics that have affected this area and the north-eastern Italy during the last glaciations. Among the many caves and shelters that have been investigated, the Broion cave (Grotta del Broion) is one of the most meaningful archaeological deposits for the chronostratigraphic reconstruction of the Quaternary in the northern Italy, since it holds paleontological findings covering a period of time ranging from the closing stages of the Riss to the end of the Last Glacial. Some of the paleontological materials are still exposed at the Museum of Paleontology and Prehistory "Piero Leonardi".
In alto: a sx, localizzazione della Grotta del Broion, a dx, Paolo Leonardi sul campo di ricerca
Il paesaggio attuale nei pressi di Lumignano, nei Colli Berici (Vicenza):
The Broion cave is located on Mount Brosimo in Lumignano place (City of Longare) in the province of Vicenza. The research in this cave was began in 1951 by Prof. Piero Leonardi and Count dr. A. Da Schio and lasted 17 years. The cave consists of an atrium getting into a gallery with a small cavity on the left, the Grottina delle Marmotte, that leads to the broad Sala Grande (Great Hall) from which, on the right side, the Grotta del Leone (Lion's Cave) branches off.
The Sala Grande is a well, filled by various sediment for some 14 meters deep. Archaeological evidence suggests an alternating presence of humans and carnivores in the cave. At the beginning the site was populated by Neanderthals, as proven by lithic artefacts in the lower levels of the cave (UUSS Q-O and N-I) and by radiocarbon dating of the US N, where lithic industries are more abundant, dated 40.000±1270 uncal. B.P. (38.650 B.C.). A period of abandonment or sporadic human presence follows, in which carnivores, the Ursus spelaeus (or Cave Bear, J.C.R. 1794) in particular, repeatedly use the cave as a den. It is only the top of the cave (US C) that again provides the evidence of an anthropic occupation, the Anatomically Modern Humans this time, proved by lithic industries of the Epigravettian.
Qui, in basso: la Grotta del Broion, vista dall'alto e sezione laterale
Climate and environment of the final phase of Riss glaciation
The end of the Riss glaciation is demonstrated by baseline levels (US S-R) of the cave in where more than 400 Ibex remains were found. The presence of the Ibex (Capra Ibex L. 1758) at such low altitudes is the result of the strong expansion of alpine glaciers and the emerging of a cold and arid climate with rocky environments at lower elevations.
The paleoenvironments of the Würm: the continental environment
The first stage of the Würm is characterized by the formation of a continental-type environment marked by a decrease of the tree crown cover, a lowering in temperature and dominance of Microtus (Voles) and Ibex. The Q-O strata well bear witness to this stage for the faunal combination and human industry they contain. The action of frost broadens the access cavity to the cave, occasionally inhabited by carnivores and Neanderthals. Afterwards the cavity became an abode for bat colonies as proven by guano layers in the P and O strata. The Ibex is the Ungulate with the largest presence, maybe because of being the most preferred prey for Humans, whereas evidences of Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L. 1758), Moose (Alces alces L. 1758), red Deer (Cervus elaphus L. 1758) and Aurochs (Bos primigenius B. 1827) are rare. Among the carnivores are the Ursus spelaeus (Cave Bear), Marten (Martes martes L. 1758) and a few remains of Wolf (Canis lupus L. 1758), Fox (Vulpes vulpes L. 1758) and Wildcat (Felis silvestris S. 1777).
The paleoenvironments of the Würm: the forest environment
| The fauna found in the Broion Cave at Berici Hills Figura 1 (a sx) - Frammento di cranio e palco di capriolo (Capreolus capreolus, L. 1758) proveniente dai livelli frequentati dai neandertaliani. Figura 2 (a dx)- Frammento di metacarpo di megacero (Megaloceros giganteus B. 1799) |
 
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| Figura 3 (a sx) - Mandibola incompleta di lupo (Canis lupus L. 1758). Figura 4 (a dx)- Mandibola di giovane lupo (Canis lupus L. 1758). |
 
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The strata N-I of the cave, dated at around 40000 years ago, reveal a forest-humid climate, referable to an interstadial. The small mammals tied to undergrowth and forest environments as Apodemus (K. 1829), Cletrionomys (S. 1780) and Sorex araneus (L. 1758) dominate on a open meadow or steppe environment (Microtus agrestis-arvalis).
Among the large mammals, the Ungulates are poorly represented comparing to the carnivores of which the Ursus Spelaeus (Cave bear) is still the most frequent, followed by the Wolf and Marten. The Marmot (Marmota marmota L. 1758) typical of the meadow environments and mountain shrubs appears. Among the Ungulates the Deer is represented at most, confirming the presence of wooded areas, whereas remains of Ibex, Chamois, Aurochs and Moose are sporadic. Evidence of human activity on animal remains is extremely rare. It is likely that the cave was used for very short periods, hence there is a little evidence of slaughtering activity and consumption of animal resources.
The paleoenvironments of the Würm: the meadow-steppe environment
The last stage of the stratigraphic sequence (US H-D) highlights a new climate change to a cold climate and an open steppe and meadow environment as proven by the presence of the Marmot, Chamois and Ibex among the large mammals and the combination of Pitymys and Microtus agrestis (L. 1761)among the small ones, inhabitants of the open habitats and meadow-steppe. This trend seems to become more pronounced in the C layer of the Great Hall, where the presence of modern humans is testified on the basis of lithic artefacts of the Epigravettian.
