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Furninha

Cave and archaeological site in Portugal

Furninha

Gruta da Furninha
Location in Portugal
Alternative name	Dominique's cave
Coordinates	39°21′21″N 9°24′4″W / 39.35583°N 9.40111°W / 39.35583; -9.40111

Furninha, also known as Dominique's cave, is a natural cave on the southern slope of the Peniche peninsula in Portugal. The cave is situated on the cliffs between the Peniche Fortress and the Cape Carvoeiro.^{[1][2][3] [4][5]} The cave is located furthest west of any Neanderthal site. Neanderthals became extinct over 40,000 years ago.^[6][7][8] The cave was also inhabited by modern humans during the Neolithic.^[9][10][11]

Furninha was explored by Nery Delgado at the end of the 19th century.^[12][13] Delgado demonstrated the caves' history of habitation by Neanderthals.^[14] Delgado's excavation revealed the existence of animal occupation during the Lower Paleolithic , Neanderthal presence during the Middle Paleolithic, and the presence of Homo sapiens at the end of Chalcolithic.^[15][16] Delgado also reports the practice of anthropophagy by the Neanderthals of Furninha who, despite the proximity of the sea, were mainly hunters.^[17][18] The collection of remains gathered by Delgado was deposited in a Lisbon museum.^[19]

Observation of a number of photographs from Furninha reveals the existence of a thin film of flora. This flora is believed to be in close relation with fungi, and displays intense colors of green, yellow and red zones.^[20][21]

The walls of the cave are covered with nutrients generated by the mixing of rain waters dropping through the vent of the vault with droplets of seawater entering the cave. ^[22]

• As a record of collective memory, the cave is known as the Cave of Dominique. Dominique was supposedly the name of an elusive robber who took refuge in Furninha.
• The Furninha cave is associated with the "Legend of a love in Peniche".^[23]

• J. E. Nery Delgado, La grotte de Furninha à Peniche at Archive.org
• The Furninha caveatPhotoArch
• The Furninha caveatPinturas em Peniche
• Human Origin Sites and the World Heritage Convention in Eurasia – published in 2015 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Pleistocene Birds of Gruta da Furninha (Peniche-Portugal) : A Paleontological and Paleoenvironmental Aproach [sic] paper at Research Gate

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