El Mirón Cave facts for kids
 Location in Cantabria
Location in Spain
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| Location | Asón River valley |
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| Region | Cantabria, Spain |
| Coordinates | 43°14′47″N 3°27′4″W / 43.24639°N 3.45111°W |
| Type | Cave |
The El Mirón Cave is a very large cave located in northern Spain. It sits in the upper Asón River valley, in the region of Cantabria. This cave is an important archeological site because it holds many secrets from the past.
One of the most famous discoveries here is the skeleton of a woman known as the Red Lady of El Mirón. She lived about 18,700 years ago, during a time called the Upper Paleolithic period. Her bones were covered in a red natural paint called ochre, which is why she's called the Red Lady. Scientists believe she was between 35 and 40 years old when she died.
Contents
Discovering El Mirón Cave
The El Mirón Cave was first found in 1903 by two amateur archaeologists, Hermilio Alcalde del Río and Lorenzo Sierra. They were not professional scientists, but they loved exploring old sites.
Early Finds and Art
When the cave was first explored, people found many amazing things inside. It contains a rich collection of Upper Paleolithic art. This means there are drawings and carvings made by people who lived during the Stone Age. Some of the most interesting artworks include engravings of a horse and possibly a bison. These artworks tell us about the animals that lived alongside early humans.
Starting the Digs
Even though the cave was found in 1903, serious scientific digging didn't start until much later. The first organized excavation began in 1996. A team of archaeologists worked together to uncover the cave's secrets. This team was led by Lawrence Straus from the University of New Mexico and Manuel González Morales from the University of Cantabria.
Finding the Red Lady
The biggest discovery happened in 2010 when the team found the Red Lady. Her skeleton was found in a narrow space within a large limestone block at the back of the cave. This discovery gave scientists a lot of information about how people lived and what their customs were like thousands of years ago.
Images for kids
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Striation-engraved red deer scapula from El Mirón Cave.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de El Mirón para niños
