Tito Bustillo Cave

The Tito Bustillo Cave is a significant prehistoric rock shelter located in the town of Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain. It is part of the Ardines massif, near the mouth of the Sella River. The cave was inhabited by humans during the Upper Paleolithic period, particularly the Magdalenian culture, from around 22,000 to 10,000 BC and possibly earlier.

This cave is renowned for its prehistoric rock art, which includes more than 100 engraved and painted representations organized into 11 sets across 12 chambers. The artworks depict animals such as horses, reindeer, deer, moose, and even a marine animal (likely a whale), as well as human figures and symbolic imagery like a panel representing female genitalia, believed to be connected to fertility rituals. The oldest painting may date back about 33,000 years and could have been made by Neanderthals, although that theory remains unproven.

The cave’s entrance was sealed by a rock collapse thousands of years ago, which helped preserve tools, objects, and paintings discovered in 1968. Among the artifacts found are harpoons made of bone and carved staghorn items.

Tito Bustillo Cave is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site called "Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain," recognized for its importance in prehistoric art and archaeology.

For visitors, the cave is open from April to October by guided tours, with strict visitor limits to preserve the delicate environment. Adjacent to the cave is the Tito Bustillo Cave Art Centre, a modern museum offering extensive information on Asturian prehistory and the cave’s findings.

In summary, Tito Bustillo Cave is one of the most complete and important centers of Paleolithic cave art in the Cantabrian region of Spain, combining extraordinary prehistoric artworks, archaeological value, and geological features like stalactites and stalagmites

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