Archaeologists exploring the cave called "Babina &Scaret;pilja" on the Adriatic island of Hvar found ceramic items and animal bones dating to the early Neolithic period, and a pebble with natural markings which appears to have originated in the Mesolithic.
     The organic finds are currently in Oxford for radiocarbon dating. Results of that analysis will be completed in January 2022, indicating whether or not people were on the island before the early Neolithic.
     Hvar is identified with a late Neolithic culture dating to 6500 years ago.
     The cave is 200 meters above the present sea level. It was known that there are prehistoric layers - assumed to be from the Hvar culture. Researchers wanted fresh finds that could be analysed with new methods.
     The dig was inspired by results from the doctoral thesis of researcher Alen Miletić, studying the topography of prehistoric sites on the western side of Hvar.

Edited from Croatia Week (7 November 2021), N1 (6 November 2021)