Praileaitz Cave

In this article we will explore Praileaitz Cave, a topic that has attracted great interest in recent years. We will learn about its importance, its impact on various aspects of daily life and how it has evolved over time. In addition, we will analyze the different perspectives that exist around Praileaitz Cave and how it has influenced different areas. It will be a journey through the history, present and future of Praileaitz Cave, in which we will discover its implications and its relevance in today's society.

Praileaitz Cave
Praileaitz Cave is located in the Basque Country
Praileaitz Cave
Location in Basque Country, Spain
LocationDeba, Basque Country, Spain
Coordinates43°16′37.2″N 2°22′4.63″W / 43.277000°N 2.3679528°W / 43.277000; -2.3679528
History
Foundedc. 15,500 years ago
Site notes
Discovered1983 by Mikel Sasieta and Juan Arruabarrena

The Praileaitz Cave (Basque for Rock of the Monk cave) is located in the municipality of Deba (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country).

Early in August 2006, various paleolithic cave paintings were found during an archaeological excavation - a non-figurative iconographic grouping made up of smaller groups of red dots, either isolated or forming a series. Researchers have surmised that the paintings were created around 15,500 years ago.

The cave also yielded an unusual set of portable art on pebbles, with abstract forms that, in one case, suggested to the researchers resembled the Venus figurines found elsewhere in Paleolithic Europe. It was dated to the Lower Magdalenian period of the Cro-Magnon people.

Protection concerns

The cave is located next to the Sasiola Quarry, which presents a threat to the conservation of the paintings.

On May 24, 2007, the Aranzadi Science Society proposed the establishment of a wide protective area around the cave.

On July 17, 2007, the Basque Government adopted (with Ezker Batua and Eusko Alkartasuna voting against) a decree that established a 50-meter protective area around the "rock sanctuary." This level of protection was deemed insufficient by the Aranzadi Science Society, which was in charge of the archaeological excavation and studying the cave paintings.