Prehistoric Cave Paintings

 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.

Here is a YouTube that you may want to watch to learn more.

What it Looks Like Here

You can see from the new header photo that leaves have changed color and some have dropped already.  The leaves aren't the same shade as previous years because of the amount of rain we have had this summer and through September.

 

Flowers are still blooming especially these dahlias.

All the impatiens I had blooming when we left here on September 5th dropped all leaves and blooms and just stalks remain.  Strange sight.  It's almost like a frost hit but that wasn't the case.

This maple tree has almost dropped all its leaves!

No mums for me this year.  They last such a short time for the price I must pay. Pumpkins and my shutter face will have to do for decor.

Roman Villa Ruins in Almedinilla

These Roman ruins of a Roman villa date to the 1st century AD. 

The villa was destroyed when the Visigoths came.

Below is a drawing of the villa with a central courtyard.

Here is what exists now as the courtyard..

The floors are still exquisite mosaics.  I took lots of photos of these mosaic floors as you will see as you scroll on.

The ruins are totally under cover now with a raised walkway throughout to see it.

Above is the formal dining area.  A waterfall down that sluiceway in the back and a fountain came up through this center.

This picture in the museum represents how the dining area would have been used.

Grave stones above laying flat.

The engineering of the water flow was amazing.  All of this disappeared with Visigoth invasion.

We were told the story of the statue of  Hypnos that was found when these ruins were excavated. The mayor of Almedinilla took the statue and hid it behind his bed because he knew that it would end up in Madrid.  Once the museum was built  20 years later, the statue was brought out for display.

Somehow when the Visigoths smashed the statues they only managed to break off a hand of Hypnos.

This statue would have had prominent place in the Roman villa.