Grotta Romanelli (40°00′58′′N, 18°26′01′′E) is a coastal cave overlooking the sea along the coast of the Ionian Sea in the Salento Peninsula, from which comes a large amount of wall art finds, with engravings both on the walls of the cave itself and on “portable” rocks.
On the one involved in the work there were peculiar engravings, reminiscent of a large feline.
In addition to other specific analyses, I made the 3D model using an optical scanner (Artec Spider), which made it possible to identify and compare the engravings shown on the rock.
The work makes it possible to confirm that the depicted subject corresponds to a Panthera spelaea, and to resolve some questions about the variability of the decorative activity, which is in line with the graphic tradition of the European LUP.
The project was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Dario Sigari (CNRS - UMR 5608 TRACES. Maison de la Recherche, 5 Allée Antonio Machado. 31058, Toulouse, France) and Sapienza, University of Rome.