Cave of Altxerri

The Cave of Altxerri is a rock shelter with prehistoric engravings located in Aia. It contains roughly 120 carved animal figures that show the hunting patterns and wildlife that inhabitants knew during the Ice Age.

The engravings were created roughly 39,000 years ago and rank among the oldest known stone art in Europe. This early artistic work shows that prehistoric people already had developed sophisticated carving skills.

The engravings follow the Franco-Cantabrian School style, demonstrating the sophisticated artistic capabilities of prehistoric communities in northern Spain.

Entry to the cave is restricted and typically requires advance permission to arrange. Most visitors learn about the site through the interpretation center at Pagoeta Park, which explains the importance of these carvings.

Some engravings show rare animals like saiga antelope and wolverine, which are seldom depicted in cave art. These carvings reveal the diverse large animals that roamed the frozen landscape of northern Spain during that era.

Location: Gipuzkoa

Location: Aia

Part of: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain

GPS coordinates: 43.26891,-2.13451

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:04