Minister of Culture Nebojsa Bradic visited the Balanica Palaeolithic site in Sicevo near Nis, where the remains of a pre-Neanderthal man, between 150,000 and 200,000 years old, were found.

Bradic told Tanjug news agency that this discovery and other results of the project are very important, noting that the goal of the project is to record, conserve and present archaeological and other findings from a period in the history of the Balkans we know little about.

He added that the Ministry of Culture, being aware of the importance of the project, has endorsed it because the caves of Velika Balanica and Mala Balanica in Sicevo can be compared to similar caves in Italy and Greece, as well as with Krapina Cave in Croatia.

These discoveries are an incentive for us to build amenities in the vicinity of the caves and construct infrastructure to facilitate access to this site.

The Minister also noted that the caves can be used to promote culture tourism, explaining that the discoveries provide a new insight into the life of man in the Balkans.

Research will continue in cooperation with international institutions and experts, and the findings will be presented to the broader public, Bradic observed.

The Minister added that the excavations in the caves are being conducted in cooperation with the University of Winnipeg from Canada.

Between 2006 and 2009 the remains of a pre-Neanderthal were discovered at this site, the Minister recalled adding that the findings are of international significance.