There were three possible caves for us to visit in southern Spain that purported to have prehistoric cave paintings. Fortunately we selected the best one - Cave de Pileta outside Ronda.
We drove there early on a Monday morning hoping to arrive in time for the 11:30 tour. We couldn't reach the organization that owned it to make reservations so we were counting on being able to just show up. We lucked out!
When you think of caves you have to think of mountains and there were lots of mountains. To reach this cave we had to hike up a mountain. Fortunately there were stairs but it was quite a climb. Dan beat me up there and got our tickets secured for the 11:30 tour.
We didn't know what to expect but discovered it was magnificent. Unfortunately no photos allowed in the cave but after hour and a half tour we purchased the book and the map about the place.
So these photos are from the book but we saw all of these and much more.
Being in one of these caves has been something I've wanted to do for many years. I was not disappointed. The guide gave the tour in Spanish and English. I asked lots of questions which is what I tend to do and was thrilled to get answers.
The cave was found by a farmer in 1905 when he went looking for bat guano in an opening he knew bats flew out of. He had to have a rope to descend through that opening and once down he found human bones and pottery fragments. He knew that the cave had had human occupation at some time. In exploring further he came upon drawings in charcoal and paintings in colors. Later explorations found the cave opening we went through and which prehistoric humans would have used to enter the cave.
The paintings have been dated to 20,000 years old and the use of the cave may even predate that time.
The cave is owned and maintained by the family of the farmer who found it. It is a treasure!
For more information search Cave of Pileta.
...what a treasure these are.
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome to see.
ReplyDeleteHow really wonderful! Whenever I see photos of this kind of cave art, I'm amazed that all over the world, people decided to decorate their premises with these drawings/paintings! So glad you all got to visit this one which I have never heard of before.
ReplyDeleteWow, how neat! Whenever I see cave paintings from so long ago I marvel at the hands and minds that made them and what it was they wanted to communicate.
ReplyDeleteWow that is amazing! Being in a care though would make me nervous.
ReplyDeleteCathy
That's amazing! I would love to visit the cave too.
ReplyDeleteI am sure these caves and the paintings within were amazing to see, Marcia, but admittedly I am not someone who enjoys going into a cave of any type, so thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm sending this comment after reading yours at Vicki Lane's blog. In my post I said I learned that some Cherokee owned the land or maybe at that time Mr. Thomas owned the land of Qualla Boundary and apparently that kept them from being sent on the trail of tears. But I also quoted the Wikipedia article that some had hid in the mountains...which is the only way I had known before that the Cherokee escaped the Trail of Tears.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent place to be able to visit. It seems that all over the world humankind has always had a need to decorate surfaces in this beautiful way. One wonders how much decoration they put on their wooden structures.
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