Abstract

In this paper we study the documentary film L’uomo fossile del Monte Circeo (The Fossil Man of Mount Circeo), made in 1939 by the Cineguf in Pisa (one of the many associations devoted to film set up in Italy under the Fascist regime). This film was unearthed in the Benvenuti archive in Pisa. It shows the Neanderthal skull known as «Circeo I», and the Guattari Cave (San Felice Circeo, Latina) in which it was found. Since the film was shot only a few days after the discovery, it is a very valuable document with regards to this important archaeological site. Using both published and unpublished (archival) material, we analyze the film and its historical and cinematographic contexts.