An interdisciplinary team composed of researchers from the University of Alicante (UA) and the University of Zaragoza (Unizar) has documented over one hundred speleofacts—stalagmite formations that were intentionally modified by human activity—inside Cova Dones in Valencia (Spain).

This finding makes Cova Dones the second most important site in the world in terms of speleofact presence, surpassed only by the famous French cave of Saint-Marcel. The identification and analysis of these structures have allowed researchers to deepen their understanding of how underground environments were occupied and to gather information on the ritual and symbolic practices that took place in these spaces during different prehistoric periods.

The identified speleofacts are the result of a planned human intervention that involved the fracturing, displacement, and regrouping of stalagmites to create structures of significance that researchers have yet to decipher. As the archaeologists involved in the project explain, the presence of calcite regrowth over some of these fractures suggests human intervention in remote, likely prehistoric times—a hypothesis currently being evaluated through an ongoing multidisciplinary study.

cova dones spain prehistoric structures
A large stalagmite sectioned and redeposited to facilitate transit through the interior of the cave. Credit: University of Alicante

This type of archaeological evidence is not new on the international stage. A prominent example is the discovery of speleofacts in Bruniquel Cave (France), where dating revealed underground occupation attributed to Neanderthal groups, opening new lines of interpretation regarding their cognitive abilities and relationship with space.

Cova Dones has recently become established as a reference site thanks to the most recent excavation campaigns. During the 2024 intervention, clear signs of speleofacts were identified for the first time inside the cave, prompting the incorporation of Iñaki Intxaurbe Alberdi, a postdoctoral researcher from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the University of Bordeaux, who specializes precisely in this type of archaeological evidence.

His expertise has been essential in advancing the interpretation of these structures, which provide insights into the technology and organization of human communities, their worldview, and their understanding of the subterranean environment.

cova dones spain prehistoric structures
The researcher Virginia Barciela (UA), next to a structure found in Cova Dones. Credit: University of Alicante

Intxaurbe Alberdi has confirmed the existence of at least one hundred speleofacts distributed across different sections of the cave. Based on this preliminary count, the team launched an extensive research program that will include geomorphological analyses, archaeological studies, and absolute dating, with the aim of determining as precisely as possible both the chronology and the cultural scope of these human interventions.

From an archaeological perspective, the importance of this discovery lies in its potential to redefine the role of natural cavities in European prehistory. Beyond their function as shelters or transit spaces, these caves appear to have also played a central role in the symbolic life of the communities that frequented them.

The intentional manipulation of geological elements such as stalagmites suggests a spatial planning that goes beyond mere practical use, hinting at rituals or symbolic expressions whose interpretation requires a complex and contextualized reading.

SOURCES

University of Alicante

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