Riparo del Cavaliere

Riparo del Cavaliere rock art site

Riparo del Cavaliere is a limestone rock shelter formed by two side-by-side niches with long overhangs. Discovered in 2003 by archaeologist Tommaso Mattioli, the site features difficult access, requiring a descent down a wall of approximately 4 meters. Within the rock shelter, two small natural concavities on the ground contain sediments and possible archaeological layers

The Grotta dell’Eremita is a cave situated adjacent to the decorated rock shelter (Umbria Cave Register 97 U/Pg). This small cave features dry stone retaining walls and structures believed to be remnants of the hermitage of San Bettone. Surface discoveries within the cave include fragments of white marble, glass, finely turned ceramics, impasto ceramics, and decorated protomaiolica using a scratch technique

Riparo del Cavaliere (photo by T. Mattioli)

 

Riparo del Cavaliere rock art figures

There are seven paintings in black. The most intriguing figure depicts a highly schematic male riding a horse

This anthropomorph is standing on an equine with long ears (horse? donkey?), head or horned headdress depicted with a circular outline motif, rectangular body with a central circular motif (kardiophylax?), filiform legs, left hand with star-shaped finger indication, right hand holding an object (weapon?).

Riparo del Cavaliere, the black painting representing a schematic anthropomorph riding an horse (photo by T. Mattioli)

Riparo del Cavaliere, the black painting representing a schematic anthropomorph riding an horse (after Dstretch by T. Mattioli)

Riparo del Cavaliere, the black painting representing a schematic anthropomorph riding an horse (drawing by T. Mattioli)

 

References

@book{RN13,

title = {L'arte rupestre in Italia centrale : Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo},

author = {Tommaso Mattioli},

url = {http://www.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/cul/resolve?clio7293493},

isbn = {9788887594997},

year  = {2007},

date = {2007-01-01},

urldate = {2007-01-01},

pages = {230 p., 16 p. of plates},

publisher = {Ali&no},

address = {Perugia},

series = {Quaderni di protostoria},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {book}

}