The Araña Archaeological Site: A Window into Prehistory

Located in the eastern sector of the Bay of Málaga in the La Araña area, the Araña archaeological sites constitute one of the largest concentrations of Upper Pleistocene archaeological sites on the coast of Andalusia. These sites have yielded remains from pre-Neanderthals, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnons, and groups from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

To support the candidacy of Málaga as a European Capital of Culture in 2016, the Parque Prehistórico de Málaga was developed as an open-air museum. The park houses seven archaeological sites and a visitor center. Its construction occurred in two phases: the first phase prepared the area for the Middle Paleolithic and Neanderthals, which included shelters 1, 2, and 3 and the Cueva del Humo. The area for the Upper Paleolithic includes shelters 4 and 5, while shelters 6 and 7 are included in the area for Recent Prehistory (Neolithic and Chalcolithic), which will be conditioned during the second phase.

The karst complex of Cueva Navarro IV, declared a site of cultural interest in 2013, consists of the Navarro IV cave and a series of directly related caves. This zone is situated between the municipalities of Benalmádena to the west and Rincón de la Victoria to the east, forming one of the most important nuclei of the Upper Pleistocene/Early Holocene record in the entire Mediterranean basin. Nearby sites include the Cueva del Toro or Calamorro in Benalmádena, which features Paleolithic rock paintings and Copper Age inhumations, and the Bajondillo cliffs in Torremolinos, which span a sequence from the Middle Paleolithic to the Neolithic.

Further findings include the Cueva Hoyo de la Mina, occupied from the Solutrean to the Chalcolithic, and the Victoria and Higuerón caves, which show a sequence from the Upper Paleolithic to the Chalcolithic, as well as Roman and medieval materials. The spectacular Nerja cave is also related to these sites in the bay. Analysis of Cueva Navarro IV has provided dates of approximately 25,000 years before the present from a stalagmitic layer.

Shelter 6 of the Humo Complex features Solutrean lithic materials, such as flat-faced and fin-like points. Early Neolithic pottery with impressed designs appears here, along with a significant set of lithic tools and ornaments. The Middle and Final Neolithic periods show excellent examples of bone and lithic industry, while the Chalcolithic period is characterized by metal axes, shell and stone ornaments, and lithic and ceramic remains. Shelter 7 of the Humo Complex also contains Paleolithic lithic industry and ceramic pieces from Recent Prehistory.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons