C A N T A B R I A   U N I V E R S I T Y
 
      PALEOLITHIC ART      
Santian(Puente Arce, Pielagos)  
        Santián cave is located in the town of Puente Arce and was discovered by Mr. Manuel Santián arround 1880, during the construction of a road that left an open access to the cave. Although the parietal evidences were not recognized untill 1905, when the cave was visited by Alcalde del Rio, who published his conclusions in 1911 in "Les Cavernes de la Region Cantabrique".

In 1989, A. Moure Romanillo, professor of prehistory of the University of Cantabria, brought out the restudy of the cavity. In his works he has differentiated 2 groups. The first one is in the room known as "Sala del Caballo" (Horse room), because of a stain, naturaly originated, on the wall that looks like a horse. In this room, there are two long red signs, one of which is branched out in its superior part. The second group is located in a terminal room where a panel with 15 red vertical signs, some of which are branched out in its superior part. Face to face to this panel,one puntuation and a x-shaped sign are preserved. In a third panel there are two yuxtaposted puntuations.

It is very hard to stablish in what moment of the Upper Palaeolithic these signs were made. Similar representations are preserved in La Pasiega A gallery, and it can be situated in the Solutrean.

     
   
   
   
   
   
                               
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