Pla de Petracos, Archaeological site in Castell de Castells, Spain.
Pla de Petracos is an old Morisco settlement in the Pop Valley, within Castell de Castells municipality. Its rock art comprises eight shelters on the left bank of the Cúmulo ravine, about 500 m above sea level; five shelters have clearly visible Macroschematic paintings. The site also preserves traditional farmhouses and small huts linked to the fields.
The paintings were created around 8,000 years ago during the Neolithic period and remained unknown until researchers found them in 1980. This discovery provided new knowledge about artistic practices in the early Mediterranean region.
The site is a former Moorish settlement whose name survives in the September festival, when people make a pilgrimage to the Petracos hermitage, cook paellas and hold other recreational activities. Nearby stand masías and casetas that keep the traditional architecture tied to the fields of this part of the Vall de Pop.
Access to the site requires booking guided tours through the local tourist office, which provides explanations and information panels at the shelters. Wear sturdy shoes since the paths to the rock shelters involve uneven terrain.
The site was declared a Parc d'Interès Cultural by the Generalitat Valenciana in 2005, and UNESCO listed its rock art in 1998. The paintings were found in 1980 by members of the Centre d'Estudis Contestans, on the left bank of the Cúmulo ravine at about 500 m above sea level.
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