Hornos de la Peña
Spain · Europe · ✦ UNESCO World Heritage Site
An intimate gallery of engravings ending with a mysterious tailed anthropomorph
Age
~17,000 yrs
Period
Aurignacian–Magdalenian
Setting
Cave
Art form
Petroglyphs
Discovered
1903
Status
Open (Guided Visits)
A Cantabrian cave occupied for over 30,000 years, its walls engraved across a vast span of time — from an Aurignacian horse at the entrance to a deep Magdalenian gallery of horses, bison and aurochs. A strange human figure with a tail, seemingly presiding over the final chamber, remains one of Cantabria's great enigmas.
Notable Features
- ◦ Tailed anthropomorph figure
- ◦ Engraved horse at entrance
- ◦ 30,000 years of occupation
Depicted Subjects
HorsesBisonAurochsIbexHuman Figures
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
BookingAdvance booking required — places are limited
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.