Lower and Upper Palaeolithic settlements in Irikaitz (Zestoa, Basque Country, Spain). Deconstruction of a Pleistocene archaeological site in the Eastern Cantabrian range.
Archaeological excavations began at the open-air site at Irikaitz (Zestoa, Basque Country) in 1998, as a result of the imminent enlargement of local sports facilities which threatened the deposit. They have continued since then, with the only exception in 2006, when a technical break was taken. The two main sectors that have been excavated are known as Geltoki (1998-2003) and Luebaki (2002-2009). While in the first area, practically all the remains recovered belonged to the Lower Palaeolithic (levels G.IV, G.V and G.VI), in the Luebaki sector Gravettian materials are well represented, percolated since the Prehistory among the Lower Palaeolithic remains.
