The city of Cáceres, houses one of the most important Paleolithic caves in the world. Despite the fact that the city has numerous historical curiosities, this cave stands out above all the others due to its antiquity and archaeological relevance. Next, the history behind this cave and the impressions of those who have explored it will be described.
The Maltravieso cave, located “almost” in the center of the city of Cáceres, is an exceptionally important place for archeology and anthropology. The cave is believed to date back around 66,000 years and was inhabited by Neanderthals. The remains of hands found in the cave date back to that time, and the artistic manifestations that have been found there are of exceptional Paleolithic age.
Carlos Callejo, father of Alfonso Callejo, was the discoverer of the cave paintings in the Maltravieso cave. Callejo fought hard for these paintings to be recognized as authentic and as old as 25 or 30 thousand years. After much effort, the authenticity of the paintings was finally recognized. In addition, even older remains were discovered in the cave, dating back some 90,000 years.
Alfonso Callejo and his brothers accompanied their father on several occasions to the Maltravieso cave to help him in his research. Today, Alfonso Callejo is one of the most knowledgeable people about the history and details of the cave. With it, you can explore a reproduction of the cave at the Maltravieso interpretation center.
The reproduction is just a small space in the cave, designed rather so that children can understand the configuration of the cave and observe the negative paintings of the hands. Alfonso explains that the procedure to create these prints was to put your hand on the wall and blow the pigment into your hand to create a negative print. Although some theories have been put forward about the meaning of these impressions, there is no widespread agreement about their meaning.
In conclusion, the Maltravieso cave is one of the archaeological jewels of Spain and one of the most important Paleolithic caves in the world. The struggle of the discoverer Carlos Callejo and his team to prove the authenticity of the paintings and the antiquity of the remains is a fascinating story. The possibility of exploring a reproduction of the cave in its Interpretation Center is something that no one visiting Cáceres should miss.
About the Maltravieso cave
The Maltravieso Cave is one of the archaeological treasures of the city of Cáceres, in Spain. It is a Paleolithic cave located in the heart of the city, which makes it a unique place in the world.
The cave is known for housing some of the oldest cave paintings in Europe, dating back around 25,000 years. Researchers who have studied the cave have also discovered remains of animal bones and stone tools, indicating that the cave was inhabited by humans in Paleolithic times.
An international investigation sets the date of one of the hands in the cave at 66,700 years, certifying its Neanderthal origin
Maltravieso Cave owes much of its fame to archaeologist Carlos Callejo, who discovered it in 1951. Callejo spent decades studying the cave and its paintings, fighting to get the paintings recognized as authentic and ancient. Eventually, his efforts paid off and the paintings were proven to be authentic and dated to at least 25,000 years.
Among the cave paintings in the Maltravieso Cave, the negative figure of a hand stands out, which is believed to have been made by Neanderthals. These types of paintings were made by placing the hand on the wall of the cave and blowing pigment on it, so that a negative mark was left. In addition to the hands, in the cave you can find other representations of animals and geometric figures.
The cave can be visited thanks to the existence of a reproduction found in the Maltravieso Cave Interpretation Center. Although the reproduction is not exactly the same as the original cave, it allows visitors to get an idea of what cave paintings and life were like in the Paleolithic.
The Maltravieso Cave is, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating places in Cáceres and in all of Spain. Its historical and archaeological value is incalculable, and its location in the heart of the city makes it an essential visit for all those interested in history and culture.
