Pestera La Adam

Pestera La Adam is a paleontological nature monument situated to the north-east of the village of Gura Dobrogei, east of the commune of Târgușor, Constanța County, within the Gura Dobrogei nature reserve. The cave's existence had been known for a long time, but the first systematic studies were carried out only in 1995 by the team of the "Emil Racoviță" Speleology Club from Bucharest. It is regarded as the most important Pleistocene site in Romania and ranks among the most significant paleontological sites in Europe. Paleontologists have excavated in some areas to a depth of 5 metres, uncovering stratigraphic sequences that cover extensive periods of Dobrogea's prehistory. The most important discovery is a molar of Homo sapiens fossilis approximately 100,000 years old — a piece considered unique in Romania. The Pleistocene fauna identified through fossils includes extinct species: reindeer, beaver, mammoth, cave hyena, steppe hyena, panther, cave lion, cave bear, brown bear, giant deer, red deer, bison, horse and woolly rhinoceros — a complete faunal picture of Dobrogea during the glaciations. Artefacts were also discovered: two bas-reliefs and three altars dedicated to the cult of the Persian god Mithras, dating from the 4th century AD, today on display at the National History and Archaeological Museum in Constanța, alongside Palaeolithic flint tools, and Dacian and Roman pottery. The cave is not fitted with permanent lighting and is visited with appropriate equipment, in organised groups. GPS coordinates: 44°27'51″N, 28°28'17″E, approximately 40 km from Constanța.