Atxurra (Berriatua, Bizkaia)

The cave of Atxurra opens in the reef limestones of the Aptien-Albien (Lower Cretaceous) of the province of Bizkaia (northern Spain). It is a prehistoric site known since 1929, and in 2015, a complex of parietal art was discovered in the depths of the cave, with more than 100 figures of animals engraved and painted in black. The techno-stylistic conventions of the figures, frame the ensemble in the upper-final Magdalenian.

The rock art panels are located at a distance between 186 and 366 meters from the prehistoric access, on the upper level of the system, and are located mainly on top of various side cornices attainable by more or less dangerous climbs. Between 2016 and 2020, a thorough survey and identification field work (directed by D. Garate) was carried out, documenting 257 graphic units (GU), as well as a huge set of archaeological elements preserved at the foot of the panels, mainly charcoals, remains of fixed fires, lithic tools and a sandstone lamp.