The cavity was discovered in 1875 by M. Sanz de Sautuola, who carried out excavations inside it. Furthermore, between 1875 and 1879, he found the large black quadrangular signs at the back of the cave. In 1879, during Sautuola's excavations, his daughter María discovered the famous polychromes. In 1880, Sautuola published the results of [...]
Its archaeological site, located in the vestibule, contains evidence of human presence spanning the last 150,000 years, which allowed German archaeologist Hugo Obermaier to establish the cultural sequence of the four main periods into which Prehistory is divided. Stratum 18c is internationally renowned for containing archaeological evidence of a possible coexistence between the last Neanderthals [...]
Although the cave contains rock art, it is not included in the tour because it is located between 600 and 1,200 meters deep, and because its karst system remains active with underground water streams. In fact, on heavy rainy days, the river gushes back from its depths, flowing beneath the 150-meter footbridge that visitors cross [...]
The technique used is dotting—also known as the baboso (slimy/smudged) stroke—which is also found inEl Pendo Cave. The depicted hinds, aurochs, and horse are exceptionally realistic and beautiful, as they are endowed with a sense of motion. Created 25,000 years ago, they represent the oldest examples of this pointillist art style, which consists of applying [...]
Prehistorians such as Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola (discoverer of the Altamira paintings), Jesús Carballo (founder of the current Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria), and Julio Martínez Santa-Olalla excavated the cave, discovering numerous bone and antler tools finely decorated, such as the so-called 'batons of command' (bastones de mando). The earliest occupations occurred 84,000 [...]
Among its cave art complex, an engraved horse on the exterior stands out for its great antiquity, being one of the few outdoor engravings still preserved along the Cantabrian Coast. Walking inside through a narrow, low corridor will transport you to another time; led by the guide acting as a shaman, you will reach the [...]
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