709 Cave
La Secada VN52549803 Alt. 190m Length 20m

Updated 27th October, 18th November 2001; 8th June, 12th November 2002; 27th October 2007; 21st December 2008

The lower and more easterly of two caves. A climb up to a single passage which becomes too tight with a narrow rift in the roof. J. Thorp found a polished stone (ophite) in the floor in 1989. Resembling the polished stones axes of Chalcolithic age, it may be a unique find in Cantabria. A line diagram is to be found here and here (from Martínez Velasco Antxoka, 2001)
Further finds have included human bones, pointing to a funerary deposit. Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Smith Peter et al, 2001 discusses the site archaeology and Martínez Velasco Antxoka, 2001 reviews the three ground stone artefacts found in Matienzo.
The site is typical of a Bronze Age burial - a small entrance with the remains placed not far inside the cave (Smith P, Corrin J & Ruiz Cobo J, 2008).

References: anon., 1988 (logbook); anon., 1989 (logbook); Corrin J, 1990; material in file; Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Smith Peter et al, 2001 (includes photo); Martínez Velasco Antxoka, 2001 (includes line drawing); Ruiz Cobo Jesús and Smith Peter, 2003 (photo, survey and line drawing of adze); Corrin Juan and Smith Peter, 2007; Smith P, Corrin J & Cobo J R, 2008; Ruiz Cobo Jesús et al, 2008 (survey) [Some of the references to site 708 in this volume actually refer to site 709]
Entrance picture :
Underground picture(s): position of adze 1  2 
Detailed Survey : 1:500 with site 708
Line Survey :
On area survey :
Survex file :
Miscellaneous : Photographs of the adze 1  2