Prospección de cuevas en el valle del Araxes (Araitz-Betelu, Navarra). Campañas de 2018-2020 [Cave survey in the Araxes Valley (Araitz-Betelu, Navarre). 2018-2020 field seasons]

Abstract

Navarre has been the scene of some recent discoveries of Prehistoric research in Iberia due to the revision of previously known sites. However, we lack archaeological evidence in large areas due to the absence of systematic survey programs. One of these gaps is located between the north of Navarre and the east of Gipuzkoa, despite local geology favors the formation of caves. Our research project focuses on the systematic survey of cavities in the Araxes river valley, in the municipalities of Araitz and Betelu, and a first prehistoric site has been located in Sagaskin 3 cave, where remains of human occupations dating back to 14 000 cal BP have been identified.