The history of human settlement in the valleys of the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees has always been closely tied to climate changes over time. The changing nature of the climate in this region, with extremely cold periods followed by milder ones, has decisively influenced the permanence and abandonment of human settlements. During Prehistory, these valleys experienced […]
Prehistoric Caves
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
The Zagros Mountains were the place where Neanderthals and modern humans interbred
An international team of researchers has used innovative ecological modeling techniques to identify, for the first time, the possible geographical areas where Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans might have encountered and interbred tens of thousands of years ago. The study, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, highlights the crucial role played by certain geographical […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
South America’s Oldest Rock Art Discovered in a Cave where Information has been Transmitted for More than 100 Generations
Researchers have managed to establish the earliest recorded dates to date for rock art in South America, after dating pictorial motifs in the cave Huenul 1, in the Argentine Patagonia. The findings indicate that the production of rock art in this region began at least 8200 years ago, which allows for a better understanding of […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Prehistoric Subterranean Stilt Village in Italy Investigated, the Only One Known in Europe
The Pertosa-Auletta Caves, a karstic complex located at the foothills of the Alburni Mountains in southern Italy, have recently been the subject of a significant archaeological research project. Thanks to collaboration between local authorities and several scientific organizations, it became possible in January 2024 to temporarily drain a dam obstructing the entrance to the caves, […]
Posted inArchaeology
Remains of a Baby and Two Teenagers, Buried Alive or Sacrificed, Found in a Prehistoric Cave in Mexico
Recently, during the 2023-2024 field seasons at the La Morita II prehistoric cave in the state of Nuevo León (Mexico), archaeologists made several significant discoveries. Among the most notable findings are human remains dating back 2,500 to 3,000 years before the present. The human remains, corresponding to a baby and two teenagers, were found at […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
The Discovery of Paleolithic Art Made with Charcoal in France will Allow for More Precise Dating
The Dordogne region in southwestern France is home to over 200 sites with Paleolithic parietal art, making it one of the richest areas in the world in this regard. One of the most important sites is the Font-de-Gaume cave, known for its bison representations, but whose paintings are difficult to date due to the type […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Remains of a Paleolithic hut from 16,800 years ago, discovered in La Garma Cave in Cantabria
Recent archaeological investigations carried out in La Garma Cave, Cantabria (Spain), have allowed for the detailed documentation of the remains of a Paleolithic hut built 16,800 years ago. It is one of the best-preserved prehistoric dwellings in the world. The work was made possible thanks to the support of the PALARQ Foundation and the project […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Researchers Make New Discoveries in Peña Miel Cave, the First Paleolithic Cave Excavated in Spain
The Peña Miel cave in Nieva de Cameros (La Rioja, Spain) is once again the focus of archaeological research thanks to a new project by the Institute of Research in Heritage and Humanities and the Institute of Environmental Sciences Research at the University of Zaragoza. A team led by professors Carlos Mazo and Rafael Domingo […]
Posted inArt, Prehistory
The strange and controversial prehistoric ‘sorcerer’ of the Cave of the Trois Frères
Very close to the French town of Montesquieu-Avantés, in the Midi-Pyrénées region, and to the Tuc d’Audoubert cave with its fantastic prehistoric clay bisons, is the cave of the Trois Frères (Three Brothers). Both are part of an underground system of three caves formed by the river Volp (the third one is the Enlène cave). […]