Galería del Sílex

Galería del Sílex (Flint Gallery) is part of the top level of the Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo System, although when the roof collapsed to the east of Portalón de Cueva Mayor, it was blocked off from the rest of the cave until members of the Edelweiss Caving Group cleared the blockage in November 1972. This revealed a prehistoric sanctuary that had remained intact since the Bronze Age, when the original entrance (different from the present location) used in the Neolithic and Bronze Age also became blocked off by another rockfall.

The walls have many panels of Post-Palaeolithic cave art, attributed to the characteristic schematic-abstract art in many caves on Spain's northern tableland (Meseta) and the southern edge of the Cantabrian Range. The most important examples of this 'school' can be found in Galería del Sílex itself and Ojo Guareña (both in Burgos Province).

The majority are extremely fine carvings, but there are also good examples of red and black paintings, particularly notable in the so-called Grand Panel. There are many anthropomorphic figures, in most cases depicting individuals with raised hands and covered at the waist by a 'loincloth'. One of them has 'weights' hanging from its arms, bearing a striking resemblance to the figure on a large ceramic vase that was found in pieces scattered across the gallery opposite the Grand Panel.

In some cases they are associated with zoomorphic figures in what could be interpreted as scenes depicting domestication- the first livestock farmers, while others seem to be bearing arms (in one case at the waist, in two others with a bow, in a third case in a throwing pose…).