The cave is located in the area of Skordoulakia near the village Asfendou / Sfakia, prefecture of Chania (in the northeast part of the entrance of the gorge Asfendou). Asfendou can be reached coming from Chania (towards Sfakia) when turning left after the village Askifou towards Komitades.

The cave is "locked" and not to be found without the help of locals. The key and a "tour" to the cave entrance can be get locally: on the village exit of Asfendou look on the right side for the "last electricity pylon" and (approx 100 m besides the road) a located House (roof). Immediately at the electricity pylon a path (through a wire gate) leads to this house. It is inhabited by an older, very hospitable couple.

The Lady of the house is the "key keeper” and leads interested parties to the cave entrance (a corresponding "obolus" for this service should be of course!). She shared with us during our visit, that in the last 10 years, no scientists visited the cave; the last visitors were Greek archaeologists from Athens, Chania and Iraklion.

The way to the cave (500 m) leads east of the House through a small plane (thistle field, therefore wear sturdy shoes and long pants, etc.). Halfway, you pass a cistern which is about 15 m deep and whose "rope tracks in the rock" indicate the use of well over 100 years.

Access to the cave is located at the southern foot of the left (of the house) range (approx. 700 m above sea level). The cave was originally a “flat cave” under a overhanging rock (and served previously as shelter) of around 6 m wide and approximately 16 m almost horizontally depth with a height of about 2 m at the entrance to up to 1 m at the end of the cave. The entrance then was closed with boulders after the initial exploration of the cave and only an access of approx. 60 x 80 cm was left on the right side, which was closed with an iron bars. This "input" leads (crawling on the stomach) inside the cave. The ceiling height here is max 60 cm which seriously limits the "mobility".

The figural rock engravings are located on natural given surfaces, which in some places appear smoother, primarily located two adjacent, probably former “water holes”, which today are filled with soil; the larger has a diameter of approx. 23 cm while the minor measures approx. 16 cm in diameter. The individual engravings are a few just inches large and in different engraving techniques. The total area of engravings covers about 2 square meters of the cave floor. Due to the different engraving techniques and motives multiple development periods and scene groups can clearly be distinguished. The Petroglyphs are well preserved; this concerns both the deeper point engravings and the finer etching.

In her book "Caves of Greece" mentioned Anna Petrocheilou (1992) the cave at Asfendou with only five sentences and underlines their prehistoric importance without any detail. She writes about "rock engravings of stone age people as representations of wild animals, arrow and bow, branches and much more". An interpretation of the probably older line engravings and the depressions arranged in circles is not to be found in this literature.

Petroglyphs are known by countless people from all continents except Antarctica. Often the representations for the communities of which they are have high cultural and religious significance. But no general conclusions are allowed. Recognizing the importance of Petroglyphs is possible, if at all, only by excellent knowledge of culture which has established - everything else are conjectures. Let us take the Petroglyphs of Asfendou currently in as what they are - a unique testament to a previously little explored Neolithic culture on Crete.

Asfendou Cave by Sfakia Asfendou Cave by Sfakia Asfendou Cave by Sfakia Asfendou Cave by Sfakia

• Map
• Accommodation
• Villages
• Caves
• Other

Ilios apartments in Maleme Chania

Delta studios and apartments in Chania West Crete

Silde apartments in Chania, West Crete

Anemos apartments in Rethimno, West Crete

Manolis Rooms in Paleochora, West Crete

Stochos apartments in Agia Galini, Rethimno

Archontiko Village, Paleohora, west Crete traditional villages

Kastri Village in Gavdos Island

Kefalas village in Apokoronas, Chania, West Crete

Mouri Village in Anopolis Sfakia

Azogires in Paleochora-Chania, west Crete traditional villages

Malathiros village by Kissamos

Theriso in Chania, west Crete traditional villages

Anisaraki by Kandanos Village, west Crete traditional villages

Alones Village by Rethimno, Central Crete

Plaka village in Apokoronas, Chania, West Crete

Deliana village in Chania, West Crete

Strovles Village, west Crete traditional villages

Kaina village in Apokoronas, Chania, West Crete

Livadia village by Kissamos in Chania, west Crete traditional villages

Lousakies village by Kissamos in Chania, West Crete

Sarchos Cave in Krousonas

Vreiko Cave in Pefki - Makrigialos, East Crete

Astraki Cave in Heraklion

Hainospilios Cave, Kamaraki Rethimno

Milatos Cave in Lassithi Agios Nikolaos, East Crete

Cave of Holy Fathers, Azogires

Agia Paraskevi or Skotino Cave in Gouves, Heraklion

Labyrinth Cave in Messara

Doxa Cave in Marathos in Tylisos

Apoloustres Cave in Pefki - Makrigialos, East Crete

Agios Antonios Cave, Patsos

Cave of St John the Hermit, Akrotiri

Gerani Cave, Rethimno

Trapeza Cave in Tylisos

Giouchtas Caves in Archanes, Heraklion

The Dominican Temple of Agios Nikolaos, Chania

The Cedar Forest in Chrissi Island

Mount Kedros - Rethimno

Volikas mountain shelter in Lefka Ori

Toumbotos Prinos Mountain Shelter in Psiloritis, Rethimno

The Venetian port in Chania

Lighthouse in Elafonisi, Chania

Psiloritis, the History

Asterousia: The other Crete!

Sintrivani Plateau in Chania

25 August St in Heraklion City, Crete

Plateia Eleftherias Heraklion City, Crete

The Landscape in Temeni area, Iraklion Central Crete

Mount Kouloukonas - Rethimno

Souda Bay in Chania, West Crete