Cave of Bedmar facts for kids
The Cueva de Bedmar (which means Bedmar Cave) is an exciting archaeological site in Spain. It's located near the town of Bedmar in the province of Jaén. This special cave is part of the Mágina mountain range natural park. People lived here a very long time ago, from the Middle Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) to the Neolithic (New Stone Age) periods.
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Discovering the Past
Archaeologists started exploring Cueva de Bedmar after someone from a research group called FIPEH found old remains. These finds suggested that an important historical site might be hidden there.
First Digs in 2015
In 2015, FIPEH began its first big archaeological dig. They found over 600 pieces of ancient material. Most of these were lithic tools, which are tools made from stone. These tools belonged to the Mousterian culture. This showed that Cueva de Bedmar was used during the Middle Paleolithic period. Because there were so many stone tools, scientists think this site might have been a place just for making tools. This process is called flint knapping.
Exciting Finds in 2016
In the summer of 2016, archaeologists opened a new digging area. It was part of the Cueva de Bedmar complex and was named 'Cueva del Portillo'. This new work helped them find even more ancient items. The total number of pieces grew to about 2500!
Two discoveries were especially exciting: they found two necklaces made from shells. One of these necklaces was still complete and looked just as it did thousands of years ago!
Layers of History
Archaeologists have found enough clues to divide the cave's history into four main layers. Each layer tells us about a different time period:
Neolithic Period (Top Layer)
The very top layer of the cave belongs to the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age. Here, researchers found ground stones and pieces of pottery. This shows that people living here had more advanced tools and knew how to make pots.
Upper Paleolithic Period (Second Layer)
The second layer down is from the Upper Paleolithic period. This layer is about 13,000 years old! More stone tools were found here. This is also the layer where the complete shell necklace was discovered.
Magdalenian Culture (Third Layer)
The third layer is linked to the Magdalenian culture. This is where the second shell necklace was found. There are also signs that people lived here for some time. Archaeologists even found remains of ancient campfires, showing where people cooked and kept warm.
Deepest Layer (Oldest)
The very bottom layer is the oldest. In this layer, archaeologists found more stone tools. They also discovered bones from animals. These bones can tell us what animals lived in the area and what people might have hunted for food.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de Bedmar para niños
