Cueva de Santimamiñe (Santimamiñe Cave)

Not all archeological finds are discovered by intrepid explorers. Such is the case with the Santimamiñe Caves in Spain, which were discovered by two children playing near the site.

The cave, as it turned out, contained a wealth of prehistoric artifacts and cave paintings dating back 13,000 years. Primitive depictions of deer, bison, goats, and horses adorn the walls, along with remains from the past all the way up to the Iron Age. The cave provided a valuable, if delicate, look into the distant past of the region. The caves were been closed to the general public since 2006, when a metal gate was bolted to the entrance, but daily guided tours are still available.