Porc-Epic Cave  Porc-Epic Cave (also Porc Epic Cave, Porc-Épic Cave) is an archaeological site located in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Dated back to the Middle Stone Age, the site contains extensive evidence of microlithic tools, bone, and faunal remains. The lithic assemblage reveals that inhabitants at the time were well-organized with their environment. There is also rock art and strong evidence for ochre processing. The site was first discovered in 1920 by H. De Monfreid and P. Teilhard De Chardin. Breuil and P. Wernert performed the first excavation in 1933, followed from 1974 to 1976 by J. Desmond Clark and K.D. Williamson. Succeeding this was an excavation in 1998. Porc-Epic Cave provides insight into the behavior and technical capability of modern humans in eastern Africa during the Middle Stone Age. Porc-Epic Cave is a Middle Stone Age site located between the Somali Plateau and Afar Depression. It is also situated two kilometres northeast of Babo Terara and lies three kilometers south of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Sitting 140 meters above the wadi Laga Dächatu, it is near the top of the Garad Erer hill. The cave opens at the base of a Upper Jurassic limestone cliff. At the time of occupation, the Porc-Epic area was a grassland-dominated habitat. The presence of faunal remains from water-dependent animals, such as the reduncines and "Syncerus caffer", imply that there was a source of water close to the site. The springs of La¨ga¨dol or La¨ga¨harre´ were likely used by occupants and animals, as well as the Da¨chatu River. The Da¨chatu River, however, is now active only during the rainy seasons. Located on a steep slope, Porc-Epic provides a wide view of the surrounding valleys. Residents may have utilized the broken valley surrounding the cave when hunting. Porc-Epic Cave was formed by solution and collapse. Within the first phase, calcareous clay and sand formed through stream activity. The vesicular structure and faecal pellets are evidence that termites were active in the cave at the time. In the second phase, the calcareous clay moved upwards which formed cave breccia and limestone rubble. The third phase contained the MSA artifacts within the cave breccia.