Prehistoric Discoveries in Spain’s Cova Dones Reveal Hidden Ritual Structures!
In the shadowy depths of Cova Dones, a cave tucked away in Millares, Valencia, archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery: over 100 prehistoric structures fashioned from stalagmites. These aren't just natural formations, known as speleofacts, they show clear signs of human intervention, having been intentionally broken, rearranged, and positioned by our ancient ancestors.
This finding propels Cova Dones into the ranks of Europe’s most important prehistoric cave sites, second only to France’s famed Saint-Marcel cave in terms of its archaeological significance for early underground activity.
Photo Credit: University of Alicante
The excavation is being led by a team from the University of Alicante and the University of Zaragoza, as part of the DONARQ project. It brings together experts from institutions across Spain and France, including Iñaki Intxaurbe Alberdi, a postdoctoral researcher from the University of the Basque Country and the University of Bordeaux. His deep knowledge of cave systems and how early humans interacted with them has been key to understanding the findings.
Alberdi has confirmed that at least 100 distinct speleofacts have been found throughout various chambers of the cave. Interestingly, many of the broken stalagmites display calcite regrowth, a clear indicator that these changes were made in prehistoric times, long before modern humans ever entered the cave.
The big question, of course, is why. Why did early humans painstakingly break and rearrange these stalagmites into deliberate shapes and patterns? Some researchers believe they may have served symbolic or ritual purposes, perhaps part of early spiritual or social practices. Others suggest they had more practical functions, such as creating barriers or markers to help people navigate the dark, complex interior of the cave.
A similar case was uncovered in France’s Bruniquel Cave, where Neanderthals built circular structures from broken stalagmites some 175,000 years ago, offering a glimpse into their advanced cognitive abilities.
Photo Credit: University of Alicante
Cova Dones, however, has been on archaeologists’ radar for a while. In 2023, the cave made headlines when the journal Antiquity published a study revealing the largest collection of Palaeolithic cave art ever found on the eastern Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The cave walls feature more than 100 engravings and paintings dating back around 24,000 years, depicting animals like horses, aurochs, hinds, and stags.
And the story doesn’t stop there. Following the discovery of the artwork, archaeologists went on to uncover a Roman sanctuary deep within the cave system, complete with Latin inscriptions and a coin from the reign of Emperor Claudius, adding yet another historical layer to this extraordinary site.
All of this points to a compelling conclusion: Cova Dones was far more than just a place of refuge or a natural corridor. Over thousands of years, it appears to have played a meaningful, possibly ceremonial role for the people who ventured inside. Whether for rituals, navigation, or creative expression, this cave was a site of human significance long before modern history began to be written.