**The stone** ::piedra 
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For centuries, stone extraction has been one of Deba’s key activities, providing a livelihood for many local families. The town’s quarries —mainly limestone but also calcarenite sandstone— played an essential role in the local economy. Among them, the well-known “Gris Deba” stands out for its quality and for being used in numerous emblematic buildings. Formed more than 100 million years ago in ancient coral reefs, this stone preserves fossil remains of corals and other organisms, making it a unique and highly valued material.
The history of these quarries is also marked by major projects and notable figures. In 1948, local stonecutter Francisco Albizu “Soarte” was commissioned to craft more than 7,000 diamond-tipped stones for the towers of the Sanctuary of Arantzazu —one of the greatest architectural landmarks of the Basque Country. At the same time, the coastal quarries of Andramarit became important production centers for paving stones, employing up to a hundred workers. These cobblestones were crafted entirely by hand and later shipped by rail to different regions of Spain.
Beyond their economic importance, Deba’s quarries have left a deep cultural legacy. In the area of Arakistain-barne, millstones used throughout the Basque Country and Castile were extracted, and several of the quarry workers became legends in Basque rural sports: Joxe Mari Plaza “Antxuela”, Manuel Arakistain “Zarren Zar”, Ángel Albizu “Soarte”, or Manuel Barge “Etxanbeltz”, among others. There were also remarkable women such as Damasa Amiegiribar, one of the few recognized female stone lifters of her time. Today, the memory of the quarries forms an essential part of Deba’s industrial and cultural heritage.
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