Pyrenees Cave 338 Yields 23 Hearths and Copper Clues at 2,235 Meters
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · Jun 16
Pyrenees Cave 338 Yields 23 Hearths and Copper Clues at 2,235 Meters
2 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · Jun 16
Summary
Researchers say Cave 338 in the Pyrenees preserves the highest-known prehistoric cave site with sustained occupation in the range, based on finds from just 6 square meters of excavation.
Twenty-three hearths and many heat-altered green mineral fragments across several layers suggest repeated, deliberate processing of likely malachite for copper production rather than accidental burning.
Layers span several thousand years, with the copper-working evidence dated roughly from 3500 BCE to 1000 BCE, pointing to a long-used high-altitude mining or processing camp.
A child's tooth, a finger bone, charcoal and pendants made from shell and bear tooth indicate the cave may also have served ritual or burial purposes and linked communities across Catalonia.
The team says the remote 2,235-meter site challenges the idea that prehistoric mountain zones were only briefly visited and plans deeper excavation to test whether similar sites exist.
Was this high-altitude cave a mine, a sacred burial site, or both?
What drove ancient communities to mine mysterious green minerals at a record-breaking altitude?
How did prehistoric people master Europe's highest peaks thousands of years ago?
Cave 338 at 2,235m: Unveiling 4,000 Years of Prehistoric Innovation and Ritual in the Pyrenees
Overview
Cave 338, located high in the eastern Pyrenees at 2,235 meters, has revealed groundbreaking archaeological discoveries reported in June 2026. Despite its challenging access, the site shows a complex history of repeated human occupation over 2,000–4,000 years, rather than being a permanent settlement. Researchers uncovered 23 stratified hearths, each marking a separate visit, and found nearly 200 fragments of a green mineral, likely malachite, suggesting significant cultural practices. These findings highlight the cave’s considerable value for prehistoric groups and reshape our understanding of how ancient people engaged with high-mountain environments.