Landmark· Tilos· Greece — Dodecanese, Sporades & North Aegean
Charkadio Cave & Dwarf Elephant Museum (Tilos)
36° 26.4′ N · 27° 21.9′ E
The cave where over 15,000 bones of Europe's last dwarf elephants were found: animals about 1.5 m tall that may have survived on Tilos until about 3,500 years ago. A small museum now stands beside it.
Practical
The cave itself is not open to the public, but the views over the Eristos valley and Megalo Chorio are worthwhile; the elephant museum moved here from Megalo Chorio in summer 2020 (Sailing Issues; OSM 'Museum of Dwarf Elephants' at 36.4414 N, 27.3631 E). Palaeoloxodon tiliensis: at least 45 individuals, average shoulder height about 1.55 m; the late extinction date is debated (Wikipedia). Above the cave is the medieval castle of Mesaria. About 2 km south of Megalo Chorio (Wikipedia).
Best for
A unique prehistory stop between Livadia and Megalo Chorio
Nearby
- Tilos Birdlife: Eleonora's Falcon & the Tilos Park0.4 NM away
- En Plo Taverna (Eristos, Tilos)0.8 NM away
- Eristos Bay (Tilos)1 NM away
- Lethra Beach Walk (Tilos)1.1 NM away
- Mikro Chorio Ghost Village (Tilos)1.1 NM away
- To Kastro Taverna & Megalo Chorio Village Cafes (Tilos)1.3 NM away
- Kokkini Bay (Tilos)1.5 NM away
- Megalo Chorio & Knights' Castle (Tilos)1.5 NM away