**The Valley** ::HAB 
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For thousands of years, the Deba Valley was a landscape full of wildlife and dramatic contrasts, where climatic changes constantly reshaped both the environment and its fauna. During warmer periods, Neanderthals lived in forests similar to today’s deciduous woodlands of oak, beech and many other species, where deer, goats, aurochs, bison and horses were abundant. But the climate shifted, and by the time Homo sapiens arrived during the last Ice Age, the valley had turned into a cold, open steppe, sparsely wooded and populated by species adapted to freezing environments: reindeer, bison, woolly rhinoceroses, mammoths, snow hares, wolves, hyenas and cave lions. The caves of the area have preserved remains of more than fifty species, transforming the valley into a true natural museum of prehistoric fauna. Each climatic fluctuation redefined the ecosystems and forced our ancestors to adapt continuously to a demanding yet resource-rich environment.
The valley was also a land of abundant resources. Its forests provided wood for making fire, crafting tools and weapons, building shelters, and even producing simple early boats. They also offered roots, seeds, wild berries and nuts, all essential to prehistoric diets. The caves, beyond serving as refuges, have preserved pollen and charcoal that today reveal what ancient forests looked like and which plants were used by human groups. Hunting was the foundation of survival: large herbivores from valleys and coastal steppes were pursued, while agile species such as chamois and goats were hunted in the rugged karstic areas near the caves. The valley also supplied valuable materials: bones were transformed into needles, spatulas, spears and harpoons; deer and reindeer antlers were highly prized; and the mastery of flint knapping and stone toolmaking reached extraordinary levels of sophistication. Altogether, the Deba Valley was a dynamic and fertile region, where nature, climate and culture intertwined to shape everyday life for more than 200,000 years.
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