Cueva de la Pileta

Cueva de la Pileta is a limestone cave near the village of Benaoján in the Serranía de Ronda, Andalusia, noted for well-preserved prehistoric cave paintings and archaeological deposits. The site contains parietal art and archaeological layers spanning prehistoric periods.

The cave interiors include painted panels showing animals and abstract signs, speleothems and preserved archaeological deposits that have yielded stone tools and bones. Conservators restrict entry and run guided visits to protect the fragile paintings and the cave environment.

The cave was first brought to wider attention in 1905 and was subsequently investigated by speleologists and prehistoric specialists in the early 20th century, establishing its importance for studies of Iberian prehistoric art. Excavations and analyses have identified material from Palaeolithic and later prehistoric periods.

Cueva de la Pileta sits in karst limestone terrain in the Serranía de Ronda, in the province of Málaga, surrounded by steep valleys and Mediterranean scrubland; the nearest settlement is the village of Benaoján.

• Discovery: first recorded by a local farmer in 1905; later studied by archaeologists and cave specialists including Abbé Henri Breuil in the early 20th century.
• Access: access is by guided tour only and visits are limited to protect the rock art and archaeological deposits.