Praileaitz Woes

This is the problem when monetary profits are placed above cultural heritage.

Please read this article appeared at EITb:

Life

Praileaitz Cave

Basque Government protects Praileaitz cave

07/18/2007

The Aranzadi Association, which investigates the galleries, thinks the measures taken are not enough, the whole slope should be protected, because there are still many galleries that have not been analysed yet.

The Basque Government Council declared the Praileaitz cave in the coastal town of Deba Culturally Qualified Monument. The new designation won't interrupt extractions in the quarry, though it will limit the use of explosives.

The Aranzadi Association explained that the new restrictions are not enough to guarantee the conservation and maintenance of the already known caves and those that are still unknown. The Association says it should be taken into account that Praileaitz caves have the most antique cave paintings of all the Basque Country, dating back over 18,000 years.

The new designation divides the cave in five areas, each one with a different protection degree. The 1st Area, inside the cavity, is an area of maximum restriction where only scientific activities related to the archaeological site and the paintings will be carried out. The second area is 50 metres away from the entrance and is completely restricted to every activities. In this second area explosions and mechanic stone extraction are banned. The 3rd area extends from the 2nd area to the road that goes to Deba, where building and industrial activity are totally banned to maintain the forest alive. Nevertheless, the Cultural heritage service of Guipuzcoa's County Council can approve different types of activities.

In the 4th and 5th areas, there are more doubts among the defendants of the caves. The 4th area is within the 100 metres surrounding the caves and, although the use of explosives is banned, cuts and stone extractions are allowed. Far from the 4th area the quarry will function as usual, using explosives.

For Aranzadi it's not enough

For the members of the Aranzadi Association, entrusted with the archaeological investigation of Praileaitz, the measures to protect 50 metres of the cave are not enough. In their opinion, the whole slope should be protected, because there are still many galleries that have not been analysed yet and "new caves could be found." According to Aranzadi, the measures still "suppose that someday 18,000-year-old paintings can be destroyed."

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