Isturitz & Oxocelhaya
France · Europe
Two stacked caves in one Basque hill — a great Paleolithic gathering place with engraved pillar and hidden horse panels
Age
~17,000 yrs
Period
Magdalenian
Setting
Cave
Art form
Petroglyphs
Discovered
1913
Status
Open (Guided Visits)
Two superimposed caves inside Gaztelu hill in the Basque Country, occupied for over 80,000 years and among the richest Paleolithic sites in Europe. Isturitz, a major Magdalenian gathering place, keeps reliefs of reindeer and horses on a rock pillar, while Oxocelhaya below hides engraved horses among glittering draperies of calcite.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ Engraved pillar of Isturitz
- ◦ Hidden horse engravings of Oxocelhaya
- ◦ One of the richest Paleolithic sites in Europe
Depicted Subjects
HorsesReindeerBisonDeer
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.