The Santimamiñe Cave near Bilbao (Spain): A central point in Basque mythology and origins and its pre-Iberian inscriptions

Research at the Santimamiñe Cave near Bilbao, Spain, reveals pre-Iberian rock inscriptions dating back approximately 14,000 years, linking them to similar motifs found across North Africa and Iberia. These incised signs, shared with Paleolithic cave art in the Sahara, Canary Islands, and other Iberian sites, suggest a religious or funerary function tied to a Mother Goddess belief system spanning the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. The study also proposes connections between these symbols and the Iberian-Tartessian language, potentially related to Basque (Basque-Iberian hypothesis). Additionally, an incised roe deer figure was newly identified in the cave. Future dating of its wall art may confirm Upper Paleolithic occupation, reinforcing Santimamiñe's significance as a central site for understanding Basque mythology and origins.

Arnaiz Villena, A., Juarez, I., Ruiz del Valle, V., Yuste, C. V., Delgado Diaz, H., Martin Villa, J. M., & Ledo, T. (2026). The Santimamiñe Cave near Bilbao (Spain): A central point in Basque mythology and origins and its pre-Iberian inscriptions. International Journal of Modern Anthropology, 3(26), 557–576. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijma.v3i26.5