The Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain () 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 , Santillana del Mar 16 ha 310-002 Cueva de la Peña de Candamo , Candamo, San Román 100 ha 310-003Cueva de Tito Bustillo , Ribadesella 243 ha 310-004 Cueva de La Covaciella , Cabrales 11.3 ha 310-005 Cueva de Llonín , Peñamellera Alta 17.4 ha 310-006 Cueva del Pindal , Ribadedeva 69.4 ha 310-007 Cueva de Chufín , Rionansa 16.7 ha 310-008 Cueva de Hornos de la Peña , San Felices de Buelna 25 ha 310-009 Cueva de El Castillo Puente Viesgo, Cantabria 69 ha 310-010 Cueva de Las Monedas , Puente Viesgo 69 ha 310-011 Cueva de La Pasiega , Puente Viesgo 69 ha 310-012 Cueva de Las Chimeneas Puente Viesgo 69 ha 310-013 Cueva de El Pendo , Camargo 64 ha 310-014 Cueva de La Garma , Ribamontán al Monte 100 ha 310-015 Cueva de Covalanas , Ramales de la Victoria 1374 ha 310-016Cueva de Santimamiñe , Vizcaya, Cortézubi 99 ha 310-017 Cueva de Ekain , Guipúzcoa, Deva 14.6 ha 310-018 Cueva de Altxerri , Guipúzcoa, Aia 15 ha

See also

National Museum and Research Center of Altamira Caves in Cantabria Franco-Cantabrian region Art of the Upper Paleolithic List of Stone Age art

References

Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (unesco.org)