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Visit the natural caves in Benidoleig, located between Benidoleig and Pedreguer
with stalagmites and stalactites some more than 300 yards long and
great domes reaching heights over 60 feet. If you remember from your
geography lessons it’s the Stalactites that hang down from the cave hanging
tight to the ceiling and stalagmites that grow up from the ground.
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There is evidence that the cave was inhabited primarily 100,000 years ago
by Palaeolithic man. From these ancient times to the present day there are
numerous cases of evidence of how this cave has been used as shelter
by man, the remains of bones from large prehistoric mammals and stone utensils and
tools have been discovered, these tools were probably used to
kill the mammals to provide food for man.
Over the years the cave has been used as a sanctuary and shrine with
rituals performed and offerings given to ensure the fertility of the local land.
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The first explorers to visit the cave at the beginning of the 18th century began
documenting the dimensions of the cave and recorded their finding, in
1768 whilst exploring the furthest depths of the caves they un covered
the skeletal remains from 12 bodies. It is believed they where remains of medieval
Muslim farmers, who had become trapped and died in their search for water.
(As written by AJ Cavanilles in 1795). This gruesome discovery gave the caves
the name it has today - Calaveres.
This story has become part of the local folk lore and over the years
it has given birth to the romantic legend that the cave was once inhabited
by an Arabic King named Ali-Moho who sort refuge in the caves with his
150 wives from his harem along with his treasure after fleeing Cid
Campeador (El Cid), they became trapped and all inside perished. |
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During the 20th century the cave was the scene of the first scientific
investigations in the field of archaeology and in 1936 was used to store
explosives during the civil war. It wasn’t until the 1970´s that the
caves were opened to the public as a tourist attraction.
There is also a gift shop as well as a café next to the entrance
of the caves, a visit to the caves at Benidoleig is certainly something
different and a very pleasant way to spend a morning or an afternoon.
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