12th International Cave Bear Symposium (ICBS)

 

The of Saint George cave is a karstic cave on the Agios Georgios hill, on the periphery of the town of Kilkis, 50 Km north of Thessaloniki (Macedonia, Greece).

The cave was discovered in 1930, it is characterised of rich decoration and today is one of the most important tourist developed caves of Greece. The area of the cave is more than 1500m2 in more than two levels and the corridors are narrow and high.

Many fossilized bones have been found belonging to two species of horse and deer The paleofauna includes Vulpes vulpes, Mustela putorius robusta, Equus hydruntinus, Caballus cf. germanicus, Bos primigenius, Cervus elaphus L., Megaceros sp., as well as micromammals(rodents, insectivores, and chiropters).

 

The material represents animals of various ages and corresponds to few individuals. Most of the material, especially the postcranial bones represent juveniles and there are many isolated teeth, while very few were found in situ .

Many coprolites of various diameters have been found on the floor of the cave. Especially in places very close to the probable natural entrance of the cave ten coprolites of large diameter (42.0-54.0 mm) may indicate large carnivores.