Cave of Los Aviones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave of Los Aviones |
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| Cueva de Los Aviones | |
Cave of Los Aviones is located at sea level near Cartagena, Spain in the Mediterranean.
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| Location | On the southeastern shore of Spain |
| Elevation | sea level |
| Geology | cemented marine conglomerate |
The Cave of Los Aviones is a special cave located right at sea level. You can find it near the city of Cartagena in southeastern Spain. This cave is a very important paleontology site. That means it's a place where scientists study ancient life, like fossils and old tools.
The cave dates back to the Middle Paleolithic era, which was a very long time ago. It became famous in 2010 because of an amazing discovery. Scientists found several seashells that were drilled with holes and painted. They believe these shells were made into jewelry by Neanderthals.
Discovering Ancient Art
The Cave of Los Aviones is made of a type of rock called a cemented marine conglomerate. This means it's like old beach material, like pebbles and sand, that got stuck together over time. Inside this cave, archaeologists found some incredible things.
They discovered marine shells that were colored with ochre (a natural earth pigment, usually red or yellow). These shells also had holes drilled into them. Scientists also found red and yellow coloring materials themselves. Some shells were even used as containers, holding leftover traces of mixed colors.
The Oldest Jewelry in the World
The colors found on these seashells were tested. Scientists found out they were about 115,000 years old! This makes them the oldest known personal ornaments anywhere in the world. This discovery is very important because it shows that Neanderthals, not just Homo sapiens (modern humans), were creating art and jewelry.
Art, like these painted shells, is a way for scientists to understand how ancient people thought. It shows that they might have had symbolic behavior. This means they could think about things that weren't just about survival, like beauty or personal expression.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de los Aviones para niños
