Researchers from the universities of Alicante (UA) and Zaragoza (Unizar) recently published a paper about its discovery. A large paleolithic sanctuary, the most important on the eastern Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula up to the present, Cova de les Dones or Done Cavelocated in the municipality Millares (Valencia).
Dones Cave is a well-known site in the area, often frequented by speleologists and hikers. Visitor news since the 18th century. But its existence paleolithic paintings was in space Unknown until discovery in 2021 by doctors Aitor Ruiz-Redondo (To connect), Virginia Barciela González (UA) and Ximo Martorell Briz (UA), archaeologists and Prehistoric Art experts. between three They discovered more than thirty new rock art groups in different European regions over the last two decades.
So far in Cueva Dones More than a hundred graphic units (rock motifs) made by painting, simple engraving and engraving. This is due to various reasons and various techniques. The most important paleolithic complex on the eastern Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. In fact, it is probably the cave containing Paleolithic art with the largest number of motifs discovered in Europe since Atxurra (Bizkaia) in 2015. Paleolithic complexes), Cueva Dones is located in a region where such settlements have not traditionally been numerous. No one was found for almost 150 years since the discovery of Paleolithic rock art (Altamira in 1879). Region of this importance in the united territory of Catalonia, Comunitat Valenciana and Murcia. The scarcity of these large assemblages was paradoxical given the presence of Parpalló Cave in Valencia, which has the largest collection of ornate Paleolithic plaques in the world.
Published in the study Project Gallery of the British magazine Antiquity, consists of a preliminary analysis of the features and relevance of the site in the context of European Paleolithic Art. This includes at least: 19 animal representations attested (deer, horse, aurochs and deer) and stands out not only for the number of motifs and their geographical location, but also for a technical feature: most of the paintings hair. Although this technique is known in Paleolithic art, examples of its use worldwide are few, in Cueva Dones it is the majority technique. Despite their simplicity of execution, the antiquity of these ‘clay paintings’, in addition to their ‘style’ (which contains clear Palaeolithic traditions), is supported by the presence of thick stalagmite shells covering many of them. Combining the analysis of different indirect evidence, The authors estimate that the complex may be at least 24,000 years old.
The project carried out by the authors of the publication, preliminary stage. Almost in the void 500 meters long, There are still many areas to be investigated and panels to be thoroughly documented, so new motifs are expected to be discovered in the coming years by the multidisciplinary team conducting the research.
writers
Aitor Ruiz-Redondo He is professor of Prehistory at the University of Zaragoza, researcher at the Research Institute of Environmental Sciences (IUCA) of the University of Aragon, and assistant researcher at the universities of Southampton (UK) and Bordeaux (France). Virginia Barciela González He is professor of Prehistory at the University of Alicante and researcher at the University’s Research Institute for Archeology and Historical Heritage (INAPH). Ximo Martorell Briz He is a professional archaeologist and honorary collaborator of the Prehistory Region of the University of Alicante.