Bear-Clawed Cavern Discovered in Spain ‘Opens New Door on Prehistory’
Archaeologists in Spain recently unearthed a cavern containing nature and human-made artifacts dating back to the Paleolithic Age, potentially offering insights into the early history of humanity.
The cavern, which was discovered near the remote Pyrenees mountain range in northeast Spain, was found to contain the bear-claw marks of a predator that lived in the area thousands of years ago.
Archaeological experts believe the bear was likely a European subspecies of the Mediterranean brown bear, which once roamed the Iberian Peninsula.
The site also includes spearheads made of quartz, indicating human activity in the area as far back as 10,000 years ago.
Significance of Find
The find has given experts a tantalizing new glimpse into the lives and behaviors of prehistoric people in the Pyrenees area.
Further exploration of the site could provide a wealth of new information about how our ancient ancestors lived and survived in the ancient Iberian Peninsula.
According to archaeologists, the discovery of the bear-claw marks is especially noteworthy as the marks are rare, representing one of the earliest known interactions between humans and bears.
What’s Next
The discovery of the cavern has opened the possibility of further finds, with archaeologists vowing to continue their work in the area.
Experts hope the excavation of the site will provide new knowledge on both the human and animal prehistory of the region and the way in which these two forces interacted.
Specific discoveries archaeologists hope to make include:
- Relics from the Paleolithic period (< 12,000 years ago)
- More evidence of human-animal interactions in prehistory
- Proof of the migration of humans and animals in the Iberian Peninsula
- A treasure trove of fauna and flora from prehistoric times
Such discoveries would be invaluable to understanding our shared past and look to offer fresh new insights into the inner workings of life in prehistory. In a significant discovery for understanding prehistory, a newly discovered bear-clawed cavern in Spain has archaeologists, anthropologists and historians talking.
The cavern in the northeast corner of Spain’s Cantabria region has already yielded several iconic artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic era, such as a flute made from a cave bear’s humerus (upper arm bone) and a decorated bison ibericum figurine.
These astonishing finds, along with evidence of consistent use of fire during the Palaeolithic era, suggest that the cave has become an invaluable resource for further study of this period, which spanned between 5,200 to 10,700 years ago.
The discovery of the new cave — designated Cueva de los Osos, or ‘Cave of the Bears’ — was made by a team of archaeologists from the University of Cantabria, who focused on the recovery of faunal remains and artifacts.
These astonishing discoveries provide invaluable insight into how humans lived during the Paleolithic. Archaeologists were initially unable to confirm the age of the artifacts due to soil erosion and large amounts of silt, but recent carbon-dating confirms that the finds date from the late Magdalenian period.
Among the animal remains found in the cave were parts of Ursus Arctos, a species of large brown bear, which are believed to have been hunted by humans during the Palaeolithic. Extractions of bones have also revealed that humans and bears lived in the same cave at the same time, which is a first of its kind.
Archaeologists say these and other artifacts from the cavern will help expand our understanding of this ancient period and the relationship between humans and nature during that time.
It remains to be seen what other incredible discoveries await, however the discovery of this bear-clawed cavern has already opened a new door on prehistory.