Green Rocks Reveal Ancient Copper Mining in a High-Altitude Pyrenees Cave
TL;DR Summary
Archaeologists excavating Cave 338 in the Pyrenees uncovered burnt green malachite fragments, hearths, jewelry, and human remains dating roughly 5,500 to 4,000 years ago, suggesting prehistoric people intermittently used the high-altitude cave to process copper rather than merely passing through, challenging the idea that mountains were marginal for ancient economies.
- This High-Altitude Cave Drew Humans for Thousands of Years—and These Green Rocks Explain Why Gizmodo
- Above 2,000 meters: Cova 338 redefines Pyrenean prehistory EurekAlert!
- Prehistoric mining: Ancient malachite processing found in Spanish highlands Open Access Government
- Prehistoric child’s finger bone, bear tooth pendant, and more discovered in Spanish cave Popular Science
- Ancient Copper Mining Camp Unearthed in the Pyrenees Discovery Alert
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