The bison cave

The cave of Altxerri, located in the Gipuzkoa municipality of Aia, has an important exhibition of parietal art from the Magdalenian period of the Early Palaeolithic Age (14,000 - 10,000 years ago). The bison is the main protagonist of Altxerri and is the animal that is most often depicted. However there is also a very wide range of species, not only of hoofed animals, such as Pyrenean Mountain goats, common goats, aurochs, horses, dear, reindeer, etc., but also carnivores, birds, fish and even snakes. Engraving - making use of and integrating the natural shapes and outlines of the walls and rocks - is the main technique used, although there are also paintings, which are in a worse state of repair. The Gipuzkoa caves of Ekain and Altxerri were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July 2008 as part of the site known as the 'Cave of Altamira and Palaeolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain'.