Hornos de la Peña Cave: monuments in San Felices de Buelna, Cantabria at Spain is culture.

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Hornos de la Peña Cave

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Etching of a horse in the Hornos de la Peña cave © Sociedad Regional de Cultura y Deporte de Cantabria

It one of the most complete ensembles of engravings in the region.

It is part of the Altamira Caves and Palaeolithic Cave Art in northern Spain declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is located on a hilltop and has an arch-shaped entrance. Some of the paintings have disappeared with time but special mention should still be made of its large-scale figures and naturalist concept. The most valuable artistic gem is to be found in the underground area, where you can see drawings of horses, bison, wild bulls, goats, deer, a possible reindeer and a human form with an arm raised and a long tail. The minute detail on all of them is worthy of note, demonstrating a precise knowledge of animal anatomy on the part of the artist. The main technique used is engraving, with both fine and finger-width incisions. There are also examples made using abrasion. These different techniques suggest two different times of creation: one more ancient, dating back at least 18,000 years; another close to 13,000 BC.