Cave of El Toro

The Cave of El Toro (Cueva del Toro) lies at 1,190 m elevation in the El Torcal de Antequera natural reserve near Malaga, Andalusia. It preserves a rich Early and Late Neolithic archaeological record, with the earliest occupation dating to around 5280 BC. Excavations revealed evidence of domestic activities including plant and meat processing, ceramic manufacturing, and animal skin treatment. Micromorphological analysis confirmed sheep and goat penning within the cave, documenting human-livestock cohabitation at one of the earliest dates known in southern Spain.