Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
-Museo_Arqueol%C3%B3gico_Nacional.jpg)
Replica of the Cave of Altamira at the National Archaeological Museum (Madrid)
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| Location | Northern Spain |
| Includes |
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| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (iii) |
| Inscription | 1985 (9th Session) |
| Extensions | 2008 |
| Buffer zone | 2,234.706 ha (5,522.08 acres) |
The Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (Cueva de Altamira y arte rupestre paleolítico del Norte de España) is a grouping of 18 caves of northern Spain, which together represent the apogee of Upper Paleolithic cave art in Europe between 35,000 and 11,000 years ago (Aurignacian, Gravettian, Solutrean, Magdalenian, Azilian). In 2008, they were collectively designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Chief among these caves is Altamira, located within the town of Santillana del Mar in Cantabria. It remains one of the most important painting cycles of prehistory, originating in the Magdalenian and Solutrean periods of the Upper Paleolithic. This cave's artistic style represents the Franco-cantabrian school, characterized by the realism of its figural representation. Altamira Cave was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985. In 2008, the World Heritage Site was expanded to include 17 additional caves located in three autonomous communities of northern Spain: Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country.
List of caves
| Code | Name | Location | Coordinates | Buffer zone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 310-001 | Cueva de Altamira |  Cantabria, Santillana del Mar |
43°22′57″N 04°07′13″W / 43.38250°N 4.12028°W | 16 ha |  |
| 310-002 | Cueva de la Peña de Candamo |  Asturias, Candamo, San Román |
43°27′21″N 6°4′21″W / 43.45583°N 6.07250°W | 100 ha |  |
| 310-003 | Cueva de Tito Bustillo | Asturias, Ribadesella |
43°27′39″N 5°4′4″W / 43.46083°N 5.06778°W | 243 ha |  |
| 310-004 | Cueva de La Covaciella | Asturias, Cabrales |
43°19′5″N 4°52′30″W / 43.31806°N 4.87500°W | 11.3 ha | .jpg) |
| 310-005 | Cueva de Llonín | Asturias, Peñamellera Alta |
43°19′50″N 4°38′43″W / 43.33056°N 4.64528°W | 17.4 ha |  |
| 310-006 | Cueva del Pindal | Asturias, Ribadedeva |
43°23′51″N 4°31′58″W / 43.39750°N 4.53278°W | 69.4 ha |  |
| 310-007 | Cueva de Chufín | Cantabria, Rionansa |
43°17′26″N 4°27′29″W / 43.29056°N 4.45806°W | 16.7 ha | |
| 310-008 | Cueva de Hornos de la Peña | Cantabria, San Felices de Buelna |
43°15′40″N 4°1′47″W / 43.26111°N 4.02972°W | 25 ha | .png) |
| 310-009 | Cueva de El Castillo | Cantabria Puente Viesgo, Cantabria |
43°17′33″N 3°57′56″W / 43.2924°N 3.9655°W | 69 ha |  |
| 310-010 | Cueva de Las Monedas | Cantabria, Puente Viesgo |
43°17′20″N 3°58′03″W / 43.289°N 3.9675°W | 69 ha |  |
| 310-011 | Cueva de La Pasiega | Cantabria, Puente Viesgo |
43°17′20″N 3°57′58″W / 43.289°N 3.966°W | 69 ha | .png) |
| 310-012 | Cueva de Las Chimeneas | Cantabria Puente Viesgo |
43°17′29″N 3°57′52″W / 43.2914°N 3.9644°W | 69 ha | .jpg) |
| 310-013 | Cueva de El Pendo | Cantabria, Camargo |
43°23′17″N 3°54′44″W / 43.38806°N 3.91222°W | 64 ha | |
| 310-014 | Cueva de La Garma | Cantabria, Ribamontán al Monte |
43°25′50″N 3°39′57″W / 43.43056°N 3.66583°W | 100 ha |  |
| 310-015 | Cueva de Covalanas | Cantabria, Ramales de la Victoria |
43°14′44″N 3°27′08″W / 43.24556°N 3.45222°W | 1374 ha |  |
| 310-016 | Cueva de Santimamiñe |  País Vasco, Vizcaya, Cortézubi |
43°20′47″N 2°38′12″W / 43.34639°N 2.63667°W | 99 ha |  |
| 310-017 | Cueva de Ekain | País Vasco, Guipúzcoa, Deva |
43°14′09″N 02°16′31″W / 43.23583°N 2.27528°W | 14.6 ha |  |
| 310-018 | Cueva de Altxerri | País Vasco, Guipúzcoa, Aia |
43°16′7″N 02°08′02″W / 43.26861°N 2.13389°W | 15 ha |  |
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de Altamira y arte rupestre paleolítico de la cornisa cantábrica para niños
- National Museum and Research Center of Altamira
- Caves in Cantabria
- Franco-Cantabrian region
- Art of the Upper Paleolithic
- List of Stone Age art
