Neandertal (valley) most of the limestone and dramatically changed the shape of the valley. It was during such a quarrying operation that the bones of the original Neanderthal man were found in a cave known as Kleine Feldhofer Grotte. Neither the cave nor the cliff in which the bones were located still exists. During the 19th century the valley was called "Neandershöhle" (Neander's Cave), and, after 1850, "Neanderthal". It was named after Joachim Neander, a 17th-century German pastor. "Neander" is the Greek translation of his family name "Neumann"; both names mean "new man". Neumann lived in nearby Düsseldorf and loved the valley
Varaita Valley Varaita Valley Varaita Valley (in Italian "Valle Varaita") is a valley in south-west of Piedmont, in the Province of Cuneo - Italy. It takes its name from the Varaita, a right-hand tributary of the Po which flows through the valley. Close the French border the valley is divided in two sub-valleys named "Valle di Bellino" (south) and "Valle di Chianale" (north), which meet near Casteldelfino. The municipalities of Varaita Valley are Bellino, Brossasco, Casteldelfino, Costigliole Saluzzo, Frassino, Isasca, Melle, Piasco, Pontechianale, Rossana, Sampeyre, Valmala, Venasca and Verzuolo. The most important mountains of the valley are the Monviso (3.841 m) and