Matupi Cave

Matupi Cave, located in the Mount Hoyo massif within the Ituri Rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is an archaeological site of significant importance due to its long history of human occupation dating back approximately 40,000 years. The cave, a large and habitable structure, provided evidence of microlithic tool technologies, which are among the earliest in Central Africa and beyond. Excavations revealed layers containing Iron Age and Late Stone Age artifacts, with a particular richness in the middle layers. These findings underscore the technological rather than chronological significance of the Late Stone Age. The site also offers insights into climatological changes, marked by a shift from savanna to forest environments over millennia. The presence of diverse faunal remains and hearths indicates sustained human activity, contributing to our understanding of prehistoric life in the region.