ROCK ART IN LAS HURDES

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40.356470, -6.392821

Type of site:
Rocky outcrops (petroglyphs)

Place of location: Las Hurdes Region
Village/Town: Casar de Palomero, Pinofranqueado, Caminomorisco, Nuñomoral and Casares de las Hurdes.
Municipality: Community of Municipalities of Las Hurdes. (Cáceres)
Region: Extremadura
State: Spain
Telephone: (+34) 927 434 136, (+34) 927 434 123
Website: http://www.mancomunidadhurdes.org/guia/grabados.pdf

Natural Environment:

Las Hurdes is a vast area located in the north of the province of Cáceres in the region of Extremadura. It is a natural area of great beauty, where the mountainous land is softened into wide valleys. Las Hurdes is crossed by five rivers that give their name to the valleys and create a magnificent ecosystem with lush vegetation, combinations of pines, old centenary trees, brown and olive trees that have been the economic engine for the inhabitants for years, we also have other types of vegetation such as heather, rosemary, rock roses and lavender that are used to obtain apicultural products of excellent quality such as honey and pollen. It is characterised by the small villages that form it. The Hurdes are situated on the slopes of the mountains in order to take advantage of the richness of the water of the five tributary rivers of the Alagón river that cross its gorges. At the same time, it borders on natural environments of great beauty such as the Sierra de Francia, the Sierra de Gata, the Valle de Ambroz, Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla and the Valle del Alagón.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

The petroglyphs of Las Hurdes have their own characteristics, quite different from the rest of the engravings known in the Peninsula. The most significant element is the total absence of narrative character, so that the idea is transmitted through symbols, in general quite standardized. The figurative elements are less common and are always objects, animals or plants are never represented. The human being, when it appears, is only represented in a schematic way.

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Opening Times:

Without restrictions. Permanently open to the public.

Booking and access:

The sites are located in natural places. It is possible to access by car, foot or bike, across local rural roads.

Nearby cultural destinations:

The villages in Las Hurdes region are very traditional, with picturesque views and great cultural landscapes developed since the Prehistory to our days. Gastronomy, rural food products and handicrafats are important resources. Therefore, there are many scenic, cultural, architectural, ethnological and gastronomic attractions that invite you to visit this part of Extremadura.

Nearby natural destinations:

Las Hurdes region has a large number of routes along which visitors can discover the outstanding natural geological, hydrological and botanical values of a wild and even unexplored area. In the nearby regions there are environments of great beauty such as the Sierra de Francia, the Sierra de Gata, the Valle de Ambroz, Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla and the Valle del Alagón.

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
http://www.mancomunidadhurdes.org/index.php?opcion=alojamientos&buscar_sesion=no
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
http://www.mancomunidadhurdes.org/index.php?opcion=restaurantes&buscar_sesion=no

Age of the artistic representations:

These rock-art sites have been attributed a long chronology, due to the appearance of the weapons that are represented and similarities with motifs in other parts of Iberia. In general terms, this chronology goes from the Copper Age, and a connection with art at megalithic monuments, to the Roman period, as can be deduced from the depictions of Roman swords (gladius), games and even inscriptions in Latin. More recently, this chronology has been reduced, and most of the art is attributed to the Iron Age and time of Romanisation (between 2500 and 1800 years ago).

General description of the destination:

The rock art is generally located on rock-outcrops located half-way up hillsides above a river or water-course, often facing NW or NE. The motifs are generally on the horizontal surface of the rock, at ground level, on slate or schist outcrops. The engravings were produced with two techniques: pecking and above all more or less deep incisions with metal implements, leaving clearly marked ‘V’-shaped grooves. The sites tend to have small numbers of representations, although there are exceptions with true palimpsests of motifs. In most cases, the representations are geometric or linear, although some figurative elements are common, like horseshoe shapes, human footprints, farming tools (sickles and billhooks), and weapons (swords, knives and spear-heads). Anthropomorphs and schematic human figures, such as possible idols, are much less represented.

History of the site:

In the region of Las Hurdes are known, since immemorial times, a series of petroglyphs which, because of their number and singular characteristics, have formed a uniform nucleus with its own personality within the post-Paleolithic rock art of the Iberian Peninsula. Their discovery and preliminary study is relatively recent (end of the 20th century), pending a systematic study.

Museographic resources description:

The routes to access to the rock art places are indicated in the main villages of Las Hurdes (Casar de Palomero, Pinofranqueado and Nuñomoral) in small open-air information points. Signposts indicating access to the 15 rock art sites, where didactic panels are available.