Las Caldas Cave

Cueva de las Caldas
Las Caldas Cave Location in Spain Show map of Asturias Las Caldas Cave Las Caldas Cave (Spain) Show map of Spain
Location	Nalón Valley
Region	Asturias
Coordinates	43°19′45″N5°55′38″W / 43.32917°N 5.92722°W /43.32917; -5.92722

Las Caldas Cave and the surrounding partial nature reserve (Reserva Natural Parcial de la Cueva de las Caldas) is a protected area covering 45 hectares within theNalón Valley in the Municipality ofOviedo in the vicinity of the towns ofLa Piñera andLas Caldas.

The cave itself has a length of about 600 m and has three entrances. The main cavity is around 5 m high and contains asubterranean river. The cave has no particular geological significance but it is important for the wildlife and archaeological sites from theSolutrean andMagdalenian periods located there.^[1]

Bats living in the cave include the mediummouse-eared bat,cave bat,greater horseshoe bat,lesser horseshoe bat andNatterer's bat.

Archeological excavations in the cave have become one of the most importantUpper Paleolithic sites in theAsturias region. Finds from the cave are of exceptional quality^[2] and include amongst others:

• theVenus of Las Caldas, aMagdalenian antler carving with anibex's head and a woman's legs and genitals, that may be either aVenus figurine or decoratedatlatl-type device
• paleolithicrock art^[3]
• two stylised overlapping female profiles on an engraved rod dating from the Middle Magdalenian.^[4]
• a stone plaque displaying a woman's stylised profile,^[4]
• a whale and 2 bisons engraved onto asperm whale teeth,^[4]
• a high quality unusedrock-crystallaurel leaf point,^[4]
• engraved horse teeth,^[4]
• a horse bone carved withbison heads.^[4]

• Paleolithic Europe
• Nature reserves in Spain
• Caves of Spain
• Landforms of Asturias
• Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in Asturias

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• Coordinates on Wikidata