Exploring the Palomera Cave
Scientists have identified eight separate phases of activity in the Hall of Quemada, located within Spain's Palomera Cave—the main entry point to the Ojo Guareña cave system. This discovery spans from the Upper Paleolithic era onward. The study relied on 18 new radiocarbon dates to establish a timeline for the chamber's use. The oldest artifact dates back roughly 13,700 years, while the most recent—a piglet's bones—is approximately 2,100 years old.
Key Findings in the Hall of Quemada
Situated on the cave's third level, the Hall of Quemada lies about 290 meters from the entrance. The passage leading to it measures 13 meters wide and just 0.2 meters high. Researchers collected dating samples including charcoal, paintings, and bone remains. A major discovery was a structure built from two large limestone slabs placed vertically and leaning against each other. The main slab, 1.5 meters long, has a pointed profile resembling an animal shape.
Palomera Cave serves as the primary entrance to the Ojo Guareña system, housing most of its rock art chambers.
Dr. Ana Isabel Ortega-Martínez
The slab and its supporting stones preserve engravings and charcoal marks, indicating intense human activity around the structure. Researchers note that this construction closely resembles another Paleolithic slab documented in the Tito Bustillo Cave in Ribadesella, Asturias, though it is larger in size.
One of the most significant discoveries is the complex structure built from two large limestone slabs placed vertically and supporting each other.
The identification of eight distinct use phases in the Hall of Quemada—one of the most hidden and hard-to-reach sanctuaries in Palomera Cave—shows that people repeatedly visited this challenging underground world over thousands of years. This finding highlights the cave's importance as a key site for human communities across different historical periods.
Research at Palomera Cave not only adds new data to our understanding of Paleolithic activity in Spain but also underscores the value of such archaeological finds in studying human history. The Hall of Quemada discovery could lay the groundwork for further investigations, offering deeper insights into the social and cultural lives of ancient peoples in this region. In particular, studying architectural structures and their functions may shed light on ritual practices and community interactions across various historical eras.