Santimamiñe Cave

Santimamine Cave in Kortezubi, Biscay, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Basque Country, with a nearly complete occupation sequence from the Middle Paleolithic to the Iron Age. Discovered in 1916, the cave contains 50 animal figures from the Magdalenian period (c. 12,000 BC), including 32 bison, seven ibex, and six horses, rendered primarily in black charcoal. Excavations from 1917 to 1962 were led by researchers including Henri Breuil and Jose Miguel de Barandiaran. In 2008, UNESCO added the cave to its World Heritage list alongside Altxerri and Ekain caves. It has been closed to visitors since 2006 to prevent deterioration, with 3D virtual tours available instead.