Furninha was explored by
Nery Delgado at the end of the 19th century. Delgado demonstrated the caves' history of habitation by Neanderthals. Delgado's excavation revealed the existence of animal occupation during the
Lower Paleolithic, Neanderthal presence during the
Middle Paleolithic, and the presence of
Homo sapiens at the end of
Chalcolithic. Delgado also reports the practice of
anthropophagy by the Neanderthals of Furninha who, despite the proximity of the sea, were mainly hunters. The collection of remains gathered by Delgado was deposited in a Lisbon museum. Observation of a number of photographs from Furninha reveals the existence of a thin film of
flora. This flora is believed to be in close relation with
fungi, and displays intense colors of green, yellow and red zones. The walls of the cave are covered with nutrients generated by the mixing of rain waters dropping through the vent of the vault with droplets of seawater entering the cave. ==In popular culture==