the discovery, 1969

Discoverers

The Place____

Discovery of the Entrance__

Discovery of the Figures___

Survey of the Cave________

The cultural group Antxieta from the town of Azpeitia played a vital role in the discovery of the cave. This group was born at a time of great oppression of the Basque Country by the Franco dictatorship. The only permitted activities were cultural activities, and even these were controlled. This is where many lovers of the country took refuge.

Above all this group promoted music and traditional Basque instruments; but it also had sections such as the section of archaeology. This is where those interested in this science met; they were especially interested in prehistoric archaeology in the Basque Country.

The main promoter of this section was Andoni Albizuri, who with his friend Rafael Rezabal, sought to make small advances in this field. Although they weren’t archaeologists they joined the Aranzadi Science Society. The Aranzadi Science Society investigated Basque prehistory, especially in the province of Gipuzkoa.

Rafael Rezabal and
Andoni Albizuri,
at the Entrance of Ekain