Praileaitz Cave facts for kids
 Location in Spain
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| Location | municipality of Deba |
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| Region | Gipuzkoa, Basque Country |
| Coordinates | 43°16′37.2″N 2°22′4.63″W / 43.277000°N 2.3679528°W |
The Praileaitz Cave is a famous cave in the Basque Country of Spain. Its name means Rock of the Monk in the Basque language. It is located near the town of Deba.
In August 2006, amazing ancient cave paintings were found here. These paintings were made by people who lived in the Paleolithic Age. They are mostly groups of red dots, sometimes alone or in rows. Scientists believe these paintings are about 18,000 years old.
The cave also held special small art pieces made on pebbles. These pieces have abstract shapes. One of them looked like the Venus figurines found in other parts of ancient Europe. This art is from the Lower Magdalenian period, made by the Cro-Magnon people.
Protecting Praileaitz Cave
The Praileaitz Cave is very important, but it is next to the Sasiola Quarry. The quarry's work can be a danger to the old paintings inside the cave. People are worried about keeping the cave safe.
In May 2007, a group called the Aranzadi Science Society suggested creating a large protected area around the cave. This would help keep the cave and its art safe from harm.
Later, in July 2007, the Basque Government decided to protect the cave. They set up a 50-meter safety zone around it. However, the Aranzadi Science Society, who were studying the cave, felt this area was not big enough to fully protect the ancient site. They wanted more space to keep the "rock sanctuary" safe.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de Praileaitz para niños
