2nd phase: after an erosion and tectonic movement phase, whose length is still unknown, we had the formation of an enormous lake basin (called Montevarchi Lake that occupied the entire Upper Valdarno). Probably, water was deep only on rare occasions and there were wide marshy areas, characterized by stagnant water. The climate was milder than that of the preceding phase and, consequently, it enabled a savanna-like vegetation to grow. Thanks to the new conditions, the typical European mammals of the Superior Villafranchian period could develop (elephants, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, oxes, horses, deers, boars, porcupines, hares, monkeys, beavers, dogs, bears, panthers, lynxes, hyaenas and the famous sabre tooth tigers, whose skull mould is on display in case 10).MORE>>