**Praileaitz cave** ::cuevas 
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The Praileaitz Cave, located on a limestone slope overlooking the Deba River, is one of the most remarkable Paleolithic archaeological sites in the Basque Country. Discovered in 1983 and excavated systematically since 2000, the site reveals a spacious entrance chamber that connects with several galleries and inner rooms where exceptional materials have been recovered: a paved floor made of small stones, faunal remains, lithic and bone tools, a hearth, and above all, around twenty pendants crafted from pebbles and goat teeth. These findings are complemented by ochre paintings composed of dots and lines, dated to a pre-Magdalenian phase. According to Carbon-14 analysis, the main activity in the cave took place around 17,000 years ago, although recent excavations have uncovered much older levels, dating between 150,000 and 200,000 years, making Praileaitz a key site for understanding the long human presence in Gipuzkoa.
Praileaitz stands out especially for the symbolic nature of the objects found and the unusual organisation of its interior space, which suggest a ritual or ceremonial use rather than a domestic one. The abundance of decorated elements, contrasted with the scarcity of everyday remains, reinforces the idea that this was a place reserved for spiritual practices carried out by specialised groups. Its scientific value is immense, but so is its fragility, as the immediate surroundings have been affected by the operation of the quarry in which the cave is located. For this reason, Praileaitz is today considered one of the most valuable and delicate subterranean heritage sites of the Cantabrian region, offering a unique glimpse into the symbolic world and deep history of our ancestors.

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