The cave of Ekain was discovered in 1969, when members of Aranzadi Natural Science Society were examinating the zone. It is an extraordinary whole of parietal painting, classified as one of the best of the franco-cantabric school. It belongs to Auriñaciense period at the end of High Paelaeolithic, but the remainders developed in the entrance of the cave embraced a longer period of time. Maybe they were realized in different moments, but the thickness of the rock carvings and paintings has a 13.000 years antiquity.
The whole is composed by many animals and sign representations, and they could be carved or painted. In the second case, figures are monocrome (black or red) or two coloured (matching both colours). There are 60 animals figures: deers, goats, bisons, fishes, bears... but horse representations are the most abundant and they demonstrate the most technical ability. Some of them, painted in black and red or only with one colour, have a characteristic ventral "M", that make them different from other horse representations. They can appear only like a silhouette, partial silhouette or disposed in ¾, looking for a volume sensation. Some of them have special details in mane and hoofs.
They can appear only like a silhouette, partial silhouette or disposed in ¾, looking for a volume sensation. Some of them have special details in mane and hoofs.
Hidden into caves, they deny to reveal their secret, to tell us why were they painted. We only know that milleniums ago, humanity wanted to represent their spiritual anxieties.
Two coloured horse (black and red) with its characteristic ventral "M".
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All pictures of this and next pages belongs to Aranzadi Natural Science Society.
A visual approach to the cave and its paintings
Last details in facsimile reproduction of prehistoric art will permit visitors to enjoy the same sensations that can be perceived in the original cave.
