Cova de les Aranyes del Carabassí

Cova de les Aranyes del Carabassí is an archaeological cave near Santa Pola, in the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Set into a hillside ravine in the Sierra de Santa Pola, it was once known locally as Cueva de los Frailes. The site ranks among the most significant prehistoric locations on the southern Alicante coast, drawing interest from archaeologists and rock-art enthusiasts alike.

Where is the cave and what does it look like?

The cave sits within the municipality of Santa Pola, along a low coastal mountain range near the Carabassí shoreline. Its entrance opens on the slope of one of the ravines cutting through this section of the sierra, so reaching it means walking through dry, typically Mediterranean scrubland characteristic of this stretch of coast. The cave itself is modest in scale compared with large karst systems, but its interior preserves traces of thousands of years of human presence.

Why does this cave matter archaeologically?

Excavations inside the cave have uncovered evidence of occupation across several prehistoric phases. The oldest layer dates to the Paleolithic, where flint tools and the remains of hunted animals were recovered. A later phase of occupation dates to the third millennium BC, when groups using the cave focused on hunting and fishing. During the Neolithic, the cave took on a different role — it was used as a pen for goats, and pottery decorated with incised and impressed techniques, along with bone punches, date from this period. This layered sequence makes the cave a valuable record of how life along this coast changed over time.

What makes the cave paintings unusual?

The rock art found deep inside the cave is what sets this site apart. It is one of the rare instances of Levantine rock art found not in an open-air shelter, as is typical for this style, but in the darkness of a cave interior. The painted composition sits on a vertical rock block attached to the cave wall, in a spot set back from the entrance. This unusual setting — artwork hidden away from daylight rather than displayed on an exposed shelter — makes the site stand out among comparable Levantine art locations along Spain's eastern coast.

Where can visitors see the finds from the cave?

The archaeological material recovered from the cave did not stay on site. It is held across three museum collections: the Museo Arqueológico e Historia de Elche (MAHE), the Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante (MARQ), and the Museo del Mar in Santa Pola itself. These museums display the tools, pottery, and other objects unearthed at the cave, along with information on the context of their discovery.

What protection status does the site hold?

Cova de les Aranyes del Carabassí is registered as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), Spain's highest category of heritage protection. It also forms part of the network of sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. This dual recognition, national and international, underscores the scientific and cultural importance of the location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Cova de les Aranyes del Carabassí located? The cave lies on the slope of a ravine in the Sierra de Santa Pola, within the municipality of Santa Pola in the province of Alicante.

Can visitors see cave paintings inside? Yes, deep inside the cave there is a Levantine art composition painted on a vertical rock block — a rare example of this style of rock art found hidden inside a cave rather than in an open shelter.

What has been found at this site? Excavations have recovered Paleolithic flint tools, evidence of hunting and fishing activity from around five thousand years ago, and Neolithic pottery and bone tools from the period when the cave served as an animal pen.

Is the cave legally protected? Yes, it holds Bien de Interés Cultural status and is part of a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List covering Mediterranean Basin rock art.