Archaeological Researches

Presence of archaeological remains inside the cave was reported as early as the beginning of the 20th century. However, systematic survey works began only during the sixties with the Grupo de Investigación Espeleológica (G.I.E.) of the Peña Guara Hiking Club.

The first archaeological excavation started in 1974-75, which was organized by the Museo Provincial de Huesca and led by Dr. Vicente Baldellou, director of the museum. During this first investigation, four stratigraphic surveys (Cat.1, Cat.2, Cat.3, Cat.4) were carried out at the cave entrance and an area of 15 m² was dug out (Fig. 3.2, b).

The excavation consisted of artificial cuts, each about 5-10 cm deep. Later, the artificial levels were grouped into four archaeological phases. Apart from the surface layer, a Bronze-Age occupation and two Neolithic contexts were identified (Baldellou 1985b).

Given the great potential of the archaeological deposit, a series of new excavation campaigns was accomplished between 1984 and 1992, thanks to the collaboration between the Museo de Huesca and the Universidad de Zaragoza (Baldellou & Utrilla 1986; 1991a,

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1991b, 1991c, 1992; Utrilla & Baldellou 1991, 1994). The main purpose was to extend the excavation towards the inner area of the cave, in order to obtain new data about the prehistoric occupation of the site. During this decade, an area of approximately 90 m² was excavated. The research was mainly focused on the inner area of the cave, about 40 metres from the cave’s entrance (Fig. 3.2, b). Two additional stratigraphic surveys were carried out in the central area of the cave, where a burial was discovered (Fig. 3.2, b).

Aside from the Neolithic contexts, the extension and stratigraphy of which was confirmed, two new anthropic layers were ascertained, which dated back to the Palaeolithic Age, specifically to the Solutrean and Magdalenian period respectively (Fig. 3.3; 3.4; 3.5).

These levels were separated from the Holocene occupations by a layer of calcareous

a)

b)

c)  

Fig. 3.1. a) Geographical framework of the site; b) Site location on 1:50.000 map. The red star indicates the exact position of the Cueva de Chaves; c) Photo of the cavity entrance.  

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Fig. 3.3. Stratigraphical section of the 84D and 84E squares, from the 1984 excavations. Modified from Baldellou 1985.  

Fig. 3.2. a) Section of the Cueva de Chaves. Modified from Abad 1970; b) Topographic plan of the Cueva de Chaves. Modified by Baldellou & Utrilla 2001-2002. The red square indicates the area of the 1974-75 surveys; the red star indicates the area of the 1984-1992 excavations; the red point the area where the burial was discovered.  

a)

b)

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Fig. 3.5. Stratigraphical section of the trench 7, square from 7B to 7G, from the 1989 excavations. Modified from Baldellou & Utrilla 1991c.  

Fig. 3.4. Stratigraphical section of the 85A and 85B squares, from the 1985 excavations. Modified from Baldellou & Utrilla 1991a.  

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concretions, which had sealed the archaeological deposit. The excavation was coordinated by Dr. Vicente Baldellou, who directed the excavation of the Neolithic contexts, and Prof. Pilar Utrilla of the Universidad de Zaragoza, who led the excavation of the Palaeolithic deposit.

The excavation area was divided by a grid system, featured by square units of 2 x 2 metres (Utrilla & Baldellou 2008).

The burial discovered in the central area of the cave (Fig. 3.2, b), was attributed to the second Neolithic Level (Ia or IIa), an epicardial Early Neolithic epoch. The burial was located at about 50 metres from the domestic area of the cave. The individual was an adult male buried in fetal position and covered by a tumulus of small pebbles. The skeleton worn a bone ring in his middle finger; ceramic shards and lithic fragments were found all over the mound (Baldellou & Utrilla 1986; Utrilla et al 1998).

In 1998, after an interruption of five years, new excavations were carried out extending the research towards the cave entrance. In this sector, an area with many storage-pits was discovered. However, the results of this excavation are still largely unpublished.

In 2007, the site was completely destroyed by unauthorized works. The entire area of the cave, about 3000 m², was excavated by mechanical diggers, thus destroying the whole Holocene deposit.

3.2.2.1. The Excavation of the Level I.b

The first data about the Neolithic occupations of the cave was obtained during the 1974-75 works. An about 20-30 cm deep layer, characterized by the presence of Cardium Ware, was detected under the cave entrance (Baldellou 1985a). This level was originally called N.IIb, in order to distinguish it from the upper level N.IIa. Both contexts were ascribed to the Neolithic Age; specifically, the lower one to the Cardial Neolithic period and the upper one to an Epicardial phase.

During the excavations of the eighties and nineties, the research focused on the inner area of the cave. In 1984, an area of 16 m² was investigated in the southwestern sector of the cave. In squares 84D and 84E, the first Neolithic pits (Pits A and B) were brought to light (Fig. 3.3), which were found in Layer II.b (now called I.b), situated in the underlying calcareous stratum. During the campaign of the following year, in 1985, the excavation was extended by the survey of two new squares (85A and 85B). Another structure (Pit C) was identified (Fig. 3.4). The majority of lithic, ceramic, and bone materials was recovered in the sediment filling the pit (Baldellou 1987). In 1986, two new squares were dug out (86A and 86B), in order to complete the excavation of Pit B: according to the great amount of ash and charcoal, the structure was interpreted as a large pit-hearth. On the other hand, the other two pits, A and C, did not show any clear function, possibly being silos for clay extraction, storage silos, or rubbish pits (or all of them) (Baldellou & Utrilla 1991a) (Fig. 3.6).

During the 1987 campaign, the area of the excavation was extended in both directions, towards northwest and east, in total 5 m². Three new negative features were identified, one small pit (Pit D) and two larger structures, Pits E and F, with a diameter of more than one metre (Fig. 3.5; 3.6) (Baldellou & Utrilla 1991b).

In 1988, the excavation of a pit went on, which had been found in the northern corner of the investigated area, namely, Pit G (Fig. 3.6). Initially, the pit was thought to be a burial as it was covered by a large stone of 64 cm in length. However, underneath this, only pebbles of the same type of those encountered in the other burial were found and no human remains.

The excavators hypothesize that the pit had already been excavated by some clandestine diggers, who may have taken away all archaeological materials, including human remains.

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Fig. 3.6. Topographical plan of the Cueva de Chaves 1984-1992 excavations. Modified from Utrilla & Baldellou 1998. With letters from “a” to “t” are indicated the negative structures (pit-hearths; burials; storage-pits, etc.) identified during the excavation. The numbers in the middle of the squares indicate the year of excavation, from ’84 to ’92.  

a

b

c

d f e

h

l m

i g

n o

s

Rock Unexcavated sector Mills Hearths

t

q p

r

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The excavation was then extended towards the inner part of the cave by opening new trenches, which measured in total 11 m². Two new pits were discovered (Pits H and I), both extremely rich in archaeological materials (Utrilla & Baldellou 1991c).

In the next year, in 1989, two new trenches (9 and 11) were opened in the southernmost part of the excavation and several new features were discovered. The largest structure, Pit F, had previously been partially excavated, during the campaign of 1987. This pit, with an almost three-metre diameter, was characterized by stone plates placed against the walls of the pit, thus forming a slab-lined structure. Other excavated features were several round-shaped pits, which yielded a great quantity of ceramic fragments and bone materials (Pits L, N, Q, P) (Fig. 3.5) (Baldellou & Utrilla 1991d).

During the 1990 campaign, a new trench was opened in the northernmost sector of the excavation (Trench 8), where a large elliptical hearth was discovered (Fig. 3.6). Works also went on in the southern sector, with the excavation of Trenches 9, 11, and 13. Amongst the main identified structures, there are two communicating pits (Pits R and Q), which are connected with each other by a hole dug between them.

In 1991, the excavation of Pit M was completed, which was very large, almost 70 cm deep, and had been dug into the calcareous crust and the underlying Magdalenian layers. The pit was very rich in archaeological finds, both animal and lithic materials, amongst which also ornaments and movable pieces of art were found.

During the 1992 campaign, the excavation was enlarged and another 16 m² were investigated in both southern (Trenches 9-11-13-15) and northern area (Trenches 10-12). In Sectors 11A-A’, 13A-A’, 13B-B’, 15A, and 15B, a large structure was discovered, characterized by an extended stone floor (Fig. 3.6). This area was the richest in terms of remains. The great quantity of ash and charcoal has suggested that this place was used as a combustion area; however, it has also been hypothesized that the stone pavement may have been the base of a hut or a building of the kind. Because of a large boulder fallen from the ceiling of the cave, the structure has only been partially excavated. In addition, three new structures have been discovered (Pits O, S, and T) (Utrilla & Baldellou 2001-2002).

After a five-year interruption, new excavations were undertaken from 1998 until the year 2007, when the deposit was destroyed. New trenches were mainly opened in the area facing the cave entrance, specifically Trenches 13, 15, and 17, while another small area was excavated in the northern sector (Square 14); however, the relevant data is still unpublished (Baldellou et al. 2012).