Between June 23 and July 14, we conducted three weeks of intensive fieldwork at Escoural Cave, located in southern Portugal, just half an hour away from the UNESCO heritage city of Évora. This site holds a significant place in archaeological history as it is the only cave in Portugal known to contain Paleolithic art.
Discovered in the 1960s during quarry work for marble, an unexpected blast created an artificial entrance to the cave, revealing its hidden features. Initial excavations in the 60s unveiled a notable Neolithic burial ground in the area where the Paleolithic art is located, offering a glimpse into the cave’s extensive use throughout human history.
Subsequent excavations in the 1990s, focusing on the southern end of the cave where the original entrance is located, identified Neanderthal occupations both inside and outside the cave. These findings suggested a collapsed entrance that Neanderthals once used. This area has become the focal point of our current work under the FINISTERRA project.
Our recent fieldwork was a tremendous team effort, aimed at opening a new excavation area and meticulously investigating the Holocene layers that cover the collapsed blocks lying atop Neanderthal occupation levels. These efforts not only help us understand the cave’s historical significance but also start the work that will allow us to better understand the lives of Neanderthal populations in southwestern Iberia.
We have plans to continue this work next year. Stay tuned for more updates from our ongoing research.
