PREHISTORIC CADIZ INTERPRETATION CENTER (TAJO DE LAS FIGURAS), IN BENALUP-CASAS VIEJAS

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36.347172, -5.812450

Type of site:
Interpretation center

Place of location: Benalup-Casas Viejas
Village/Town: Benalup-Casas Viejas
Municipality: Benalup-Casas Viejas (Cádiz)
Region: Andalucía
State: Spain
Telephone: (+34) 956 417 927
Website: https://www.centroprehistoricobenalup.com/
E-mail: centroprehistoricobenalup@hotmail.com

Natural Environment:

Natural Park of Los Alcornocales. The site of “El Tajo de las Figuras” is located a few kilometres from Benalup-Casas Viejas. These paintings, located next to the old lagoon of La Janda, on the right bank of the River Celemín, at the foot of Sierra Momia, are located in a series of rock-shelters: Tajo de las Figuras, del Arco, Cimera or Los Cochinos, Negra, Alta, El Tesoro or La Paja, and Los Pilones.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

The 507 paintings at “El Tajo de las Figuras” Rock-shelter can be classified into three main groups, where the most common figures are birds, deer and humans. The most usual colours are red, yellow and white. In general terms, their age can probably be established in the Neolithic and the Copper Age, until at least the early Bronze Age. Zoomorphic figures and schematic motifs are also abundant.

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Opening Times:

https://www.centroprehistoricobenalup.com/informacion.html

Booking and access:

https://www.centroprehistoricobenalup.com/informacion.html

Nearby cultural destinations:

Benalup-Casas Viejas is a village with abundant underground waters, which rise in a large number of springs. There are two routes in the village; to the urban springs and to the rural springs. The Church of Our Lady of Socorro is outstanding. It was built between 1915 and 1930 over an earlier chapel. The ancient monastery of San José del Cuervo was built in the thirteenth century by the barefoot Carmelites, who choose a beautiful location for their monastic retreat, the Cuervo Gorge. About 1km from the village on Benalup Farm, la “Morita”, Benalup-Casas Viejas Tower, overlooks a large part of the region of La Janda.

Nearby natural destinations:

Malcocinado, also known as La Yeguada, is located in the heart of the Janda region. This village offers many options for all kinds of nature-lovers, from excellent hunting land to magnificent routes for hiking or other forms of transport. Route of the Bay of Cadiz. Route of the Serranía. Route of Strait. Route of the Prehistoric Janda. Routes of Prehistoric Cádiz.

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
https://www.cadizturismo.com/municipios/benalup-casas-viejas
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
https://www.cadizturismo.com/municipios/benalup-casas-viejas

Age of the artistic representations:

Neolithic to Bronze Age.

General description of the destination:

The “Prehistoric Cádiz” Interpretation Centre at Benalup – Casas Viejas aims to bring the visitor closer to the reality of Cádiz’s prehistory. The public will have the possibility to know these exciting cultural moments. It is Archaeology, together with a host of sciences, which is allowing the discovery and understanding of the characteristics that defined the different periods that make up Prehistory in the province of Cadiz.

History of the site:

The Tajo de las Figuras is a reference within the peninsular Historiography around the prehistoric art. Juan Cabré and Eduardo Hernández – Pacheco began the first studies on Andalusian Cave Art in this cave in 1913.

Museographic resources description:

The “Prehistoric Cádiz” interpretation Centre has numerous museographic resources, such as digital interactives, audiovisuals, environmental recreations, replicas and special effects that will create a real and close atmosphere… with which you will observe, deduce and analyse life in the different prehistoric periods of the province, with special attention to areas such as the La Janda Lagoon and its surroundings, where the shelter of the Tajo de las Figuras is located.