Unusual findings in Magdalenian site

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   This is the archaeological news of today: in the cave of Praile Aitz I
(Deba, Basque Country) Science Society Aranzadi, specialized in
archaeology, has found very unusual findings from early Magdalenian
times. 

Originally posted by Berria

Jewel of the Magdalenian period 
                 A
necklace and pendants made 15,500 years ago have been discovered in the
Praile I cave; it is the most important Upper Paleolithic find in the
Basque Country in recent years 

Mikel Lizarralde � DONOSTIA (San Sebastian)

A Magdalenian treasure of the Upper Paleolithic has lain hidden for the
last 15,500 years in the Praile I cave in Deba (Gipuzkoa). Excavations
done over the last few years by a team led by the archaeologist Xabier
Pe�alver of the Aranzadi Society of Sciences have uncovered spectacular
jewellery. Four stunning necklaces of smooth black stone, another one
of goats� teeth and a 12-cm pendant made by Cro-Magnon man have been
discovered in the cave. There are 29 items in all, each one made by
hand and engraved.

The find in the Praile I cave is not only the most important in the
Basque Country in recent years, but also one of the most significant
ones in the European continent as far as the Upper Paleolithic period
is concerned. The Praile I cave was discovered in 1983 by Mikel Sasieta
and Juan Arruabarrena, members of the Munibe group of Azkoitia
(Gipuzkoa), and is one of the Paleolithic�s most significant
archeological clusters.

(source: http://www.berria.info/english/ikusi.php?id=1832)

Location map of the site (source: Aranzadi: Praile Aitz I)

Above: the main "jewel" (source: Gara)
The excavating team considers it (with some caution) as an abstract
version of the contemporary "Venus" of Lespugue and Kostienski: an
abstraction of the same femenine motiff, presumibly religious. 

Many other unusual "jewels", most of the same style,
have been found but the habitation, perfectly furnished with slabs and
a stone bench, but almost no tools nor other typical dweling rests.
It's thought to be the home of a "shaman", or rather a "sorgin" (witch
or pagan priestess). Curiously enough Praile Aitz means "monk's rock". 

The site is dated back to 15,500 BCE, in the early
Magdalenian period but further work is being done in superior levels
that also show similar uncommon remains, yet to be fully studied. 

The site is threatened by a stonequarry and, in
principle, this excavation was a rescue operation, yet after realizing
the uniqueness and importance of the site it seems that the authorities
are going to intervene and prevent the quarry from destroying it. 