All articles tagged with #pyrenees
Archaeologists excavating Cave 338 in the high Pyrenees have uncovered clues of repeated, long-term copper production dating from about 3500 BCE to 1000 BCE, including 23 hearths and crushed green mineral fragments likely malachite, a child’s tooth and other artefacts suggesting a mining camp and possibly burial use; only 6 square meters have been excavated so far with plans to go deeper.
In a high-altitude Pyrenees cave (2,235 m) called Cova 338, archaeologists found 23 fire pits, malachite fragments, pottery, bones, and ornaments—plus remains of a child—showing repeated, organized visits over more than 4,000 years (from the late Neolithic to the Bronze Age). The site appears to have been used to heat and process copper-bearing rock, not necessarily smelted there, indicating sophisticated resource extraction and knowledge transfer in an otherwise remote location. Future work aims to confirm ore sources and the full metallurgical sequence.
A high-altitude Pyrenees cave, Cova 338, shows a 5,500–6,000-year pattern of seasonal copper processing with 23 hearths and malachite fragments, indicating deliberate mining at altitude by Iberian communities; the site also yielded a child's remains and unique ornaments, highlighting complex alpine mobility and trade.
A 42-year-old British woman, living in Finland, fell 1,650 feet from Balaitus Peak on the Great Diagonal in northern Spain’s Pyrenees, in front of her 53-year-old partner who was uninjured. A helicopter search failed to save her; authorities said she died at the scene and the Civil Guard opened an investigation, with post-mortem results to be reviewed by a local court.
Archaeologists excavating Cave 338 in the eastern Pyrenees uncovered 23 hearths with crushed green mineral fragments resembling malachite, indicating deliberate copper processing at a high-altitude site used repeatedly over about 2,000 years. The stratigraphy includes a 6,000-year-old oldest layer and layers dated roughly 5,500–4,000 years ago and ~3,000 years ago, along with human remains and pendants, suggesting possible burial or ritual use. The findings challenge the notion that high mountains were only marginal habitats for prehistoric peoples, and researchers plan further work to confirm malachite’s source and deepen the site’s chronology.
Archaeologists excavating a high-altitude cave in Girona, Spain (2,235 m/7,333 ft) uncovered nearly 200 malachite fragments, charcoal-rich pits, and other artifacts suggesting prehistoric people repeatedly processed green copper ore to extract copper, constituting a Copper Age copper-smelting camp active for more than 4,000 years, with intensive use between 3600–2400 BCE. The finds—human remains, animal bones, pottery, and cultural ornaments—indicate long-term occupation and resource exploitation in the Pyrenees, and researchers plan to confirm the malachite identification and continue excavations to understand the site’s purpose.
Ancient hunter-gatherers around 16,000 years ago risked their lives exploring a difficult cave in the French Pyrenees, possibly for ritualistic shaman training, as evidenced by intricate paintings and tools found deep within the site, suggesting a complex cultural practice.
Rescuers in Spain found the body of American hiker Cole Henderson, who had been missing for nearly a month in the Pyrenees near Monte Perdido. Henderson, 27, was last heard from on July 9 while hiking in the area, and his body was recovered from a difficult-to-access location on August 8. He was an active individual and recent graduate working in renewable energy.
Tadej Pogačar remains relaxed and confident as the Tour de France leader, having won two Pyrenees stages and leading by over four minutes, while maintaining a humble attitude in press conferences.
In stage 14 of the 2025 Tour de France, a breakaway victory was achieved by Arensman, denying Pogačar a third stage win in the Pyrenees, while Vingegaard attempted to attack but was ultimately second in the stage sprint. Pogačar maintained the yellow jersey, and Lipowitz took the white jersey as best young rider, with GC standings shifting slightly amidst intense mountain racing.
Remco Evenepoel, wearing the white jersey, abandoned the Tour de France during stage 14 in the Pyrenees after being dropped early on the Col du Tourmalet, marking a significant setback in the race.
Stage 14 of the Tour de France is a challenging mountain stage featuring four major Pyrénéan climbs—Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, and Superbagnères—stacked in the final 110km, promising significant time gaps among riders and reminiscent of the 1986 route.
Tadej Pogacar dominated stage 12 of the 2025 Tour de France with a commanding performance in the Pyrenees, securing his 20th stage win and solidifying his lead in the general classification, while other contenders struggled to keep pace.
Ben Healy and EF Education-EasyPost are optimistic about defending the Tour de France yellow jersey as they prepare for the Pyrenees, celebrating their current success and aiming high in the race.
A reader captured a stunning image of the Milky Way Galaxy above the Pyrenees mountain range, which separates Spain from the rest of Europe. The photographer described the skies as dark and brilliant, making even a single exposure photo taken with a Fuji X100 APS camera look stunning. The image was taken while hiking the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, a high mountain route along the French-Spanish border, and the photographer expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their work and looks forward to more celestial delights in the new year.