Prehistoric Rock Art Trails

EL PENDO CAVE

Google Maps:
43.387891, -3.913438

Type of site:
Cave

Place of location: El Churi
Village/Town: Escobedo
Municipality: Camargo (Cantabria)
Region: Cantabria
State: Spain
Telephone: +34 942 598 425, +34 942 259 214
Website: https://cuevas.culturadecantabria.com/en/
E-mail: reservascuevas@culturadecantabria.es

Natural Environment:

El Pendo Cave is near the bottom of a karst depression, and acts as a sink-hole for a small stream. It is surrounded by meadows and eucalyptus plantations as well as deciduous and holm oak woods.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

The paintings in El Pendo Cave are very similar to those found in several caves in the area of Ramales, such as Covalanas Cave, and are said to belong to the “Ramales School”.

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Opening Times:

Closed January 1st and 6th, December 24th, 25th, and 31st. Low season: From 1st November to 28st February. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Mid season: From 1st March to 13th June and from 18th September to 31st October. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. High season: From 14th June to 17th September. Closed on Mondays.

Booking and access:

www.culturadecantabria.com reservascuevas@culturadecantabria.es Telephone: +34 942 598 425

Nearby cultural destinations:

In Camargo: Cantabria Ethnographic Museum, El Collado Castle. San Pedro de Escobedo Necropolis. Roman Baths at San Juan de Maliaño.

Nearby natural destinations:

In Camargo: Pozón de la Dolores, Alday Salt-marsh, Sierra de Peñajorao.

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
https://turismodecantabria.com/
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
https://www.turismodecantabria.com/descubrela/donde-comer

Age of the artistic representations:

The paintings have been dated to the Gravettian period and early Solutrean (26,000-20,000 years ago).

General description of the destination:

The cave contains one of the largest Palaeolithic occupation deposits in Europe, and its excavation process can be viewed. The rock art forms two groups. The red paintings are located on a long frieze at the end of the first chamber in the cave. Most of the figures are hinds, as well as a horse, ibex and several signs. The engravings, consisting of a bird and a horse, are located in the final passage and can only be seen with special permission, owing to their difficult access.

History of the site:

The cave was discovered by M. Sanz de Sautuola in 1878. Since then it has been excavated on numerous occasions. The engravings were found in 1906 by Alcalde del Río, while the paintings were identified in 1997 by a team directed by Ramón Montes