Paleolithic paintings have been found in a cave of Errenteria

2013/12/11 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

In 2012 a group of archaeologists found in the cave of Aitzbitarte IV (Errenteria, Gipuzkoa) some paintings so far unknown, after studies have been published the results in the magazine Munibe.

According to archaeologists Joseba Ríos Garaizar, a member of the research team, they have no doubt that the paintings are palaeolithic, but “unfortunately” they have no possibility of determining chronology or knowing their meaning. The paintings are found in the cavity and at the entrance of the cave, with semi-covered remains of a stalagmitic crust that appear to have animal appearance and a circular red spot.

Although the paintings are not spectacular, they are not at all banal. In fact, in four other Gipuzkoan caves, paintings have also been found, but so far never in the east of the territory. On the contrary, Barandiaran and Altuna long ago demonstrated that in the Upper Palaeolithic there were human beings in the area of Aitzbitarte and some examples of mobile art have been found. Therefore, the discovery of paintings reinforces the hypothesis that the area was an important place of residence.