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Cueva de Altxerri | |
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.png)  Cave of Altxerri location in Spain Show map of the Basque Country Cave of Altxerri Cave of Altxerri (Spain) Show map of Spain | |
| Alternative name | Altxerriko leizea |
|---|---|
| Location | Aia,Gipuzkoa |
| Region | Basque Country |
| Coordinates | 43°16′7″N2°8′2″W / 43.26861°N 2.13389°W /43.26861; -2.13389 |
| Site notes | |
| Public access | no |
| Official name | Altxerri |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, iii |
| Designated | 1985(9thsession) |
| Part of | Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain |
| Reference no. | 310-018 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Official name | Cuevas de Altexerri |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 17 July 1984 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0005144 |
TheCave of Altxerri (inSpanish "Cueva de Altxerri", and inBasqueAltxerriko leizea orAltxerriko koba) is located in the municipality of Aya (Gipuzkoa) in theBasque Country (Spain).
The original grotto preserves rock paintings and engravings which have been dated from the end of the UpperMagdalenian period, within theUpper Paleolithic; the pictures situated in an upper gallery, known as Altxerri B, have been dated in a 2013 study as the oldest stone paintings in Europe, with an estimated age of 39,000 years.[1][2]
Its artistic style forms part of the so-calledFranco-Cantabrian School, characterized by the realism of the figures presented.
Altxerri houses one of the largest sets of rock engravings of the area. It contains around one hundred and twenty engravings of which ninety-two are of animals. Thebison is the best-represented animal, with a total of fifty-three engravings. Other animals present in the cave are the reindeer, with six engravings, four deer and goats, three horses andaurochs, twosaiga antelope, awolverine, a fox, a hare and a bird.
It was declared aWorld Heritage Site in 2008, together with sixteen other caves situated in Northern Spain, as part of the group known as theCave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain.[3]
The cave is closed to the public.[4]
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See also:Caves of Monte Castillo | ||
