Armintxe Cave

Armintxe Cave
location in Spain Show map of Basque Country location in Spain Show map of Spain
Location	Lekeitio, Basque Country, Spain
Coordinates	43°21′43″N 2°30′29″W / 43.36194°N 2.50806°W / 43.36194; -2.50806Coordinates: 43°21′43″N 2°30′29″W / 43.36194°N 2.50806°W / 43.36194; -2.50806
Visitors	no
Features	prehistoric parietal art

Armintxe Cave is situated in the Lekeitio municipality of the Biscay province, Spain.

Although the cave was known from a long time ago, it was believed that it disappeared because of the urbanization and construction works made at the end of the XX century and beginnings of the XXI. It was found again and explored on May 1, 2016, by eight speleologists from the Basque group ADES Espeleologia Elkartea. After opening the entrance duct, located on a hillside in an urban environment, the cavers entered unknown galleries, and forced a step to a room where they found the panel of engravings. Some of these forms and the etching technique used were announced to be "identical" to those found in the French Pyrenees which suggests that there could have been links between the inhabitants of both areas.^[1]

Already described as a “treasure of humanity.” the depictions are among the largest found to date – some measuring up to 1.5 m (4.92 ft) in length. A surprise was the first Paleolithic representation of two lions in the region. In a first analysis the etchings were estimated to date from between 12,000 and 14,500 years ago.^[2]

Not open to the public, 'extremely difficult to access', located under a residential building in the center of Lekeitio, the need to preserve the paintings outlines the current impossibility to access the artwork.^[3][4]

Map of the cave, including the location of the etchings.

See also

• Caves of Midi-Pyrénées
• Cave of Niaux

References