Roca dels Moros
Encyclopedia
The Roca dels Moros or Caves of El Cogul is a rock shelter
containing outstanding paintings of prehistoric Levantine rock art
. The site is in El Cogul
, in the autonomous community of Catalonia
, Spain.
Since 1998 the paintings have been protected as part of a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
(reference 874).
Inscriptions in Northeastern Iberian script
and in Latin alphabet, one of which is an ex-voto
, indicate that the use of the place as a sanctuary extended to Iberian and Roman times.
Near the paintings there is a cemetery with tombs carved into the rock.
A dance
scene is the most famous of the paintings. Nine women are depicted, something new in Spanish art. Some are painted in black and others in red. They were seen dancing around a male figure with abnormally large phallus
. Along with humans, there are several animals.
and Juan Cabré, took the view that Levantine rock art belonged to the palaeolithic. There is now a consensus that the paintings are post-palaeolithic, although uncertainty persists as to their date.
Conservation work has been carried out on the paintings under the auspices of the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya. There are plans to build a visitors centre to interpret the site and to promote Cogul in the context of a "route of rock art", linking it to similar sites in Catalonia such as Abrics de l’Ermita at Ulldecona
.
Rock shelter
A rock shelter is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff....
containing outstanding paintings of prehistoric Levantine rock art
Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin
Rock art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1998. This is a collection of rock art sites in the eastern half of Spain, notable for the number of places included, the largest concentration of such art in Europe...
. The site is in El Cogul
El Cogul
El Cogul is a municipality in Catalonia. It is in the comarca of les Garrigues in the province of Lleida.In 2010 the population was reported to have dropped below 200.It is famous for its rock art site Roca dels Moros....
, in the autonomous community of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain.
Since 1998 the paintings have been protected as part of a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
(reference 874).
Inscriptions in Northeastern Iberian script
Northeastern Iberian script
The northeastern Iberian script is also known as Levantine Iberian or Iberian, because it is the Iberian script that was most frequently used, and was the main means of written expression of the Iberian language. The language is also expressed by the southeastern Iberian script and by the...
and in Latin alphabet, one of which is an ex-voto
Ex-voto
An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or divinity. It is given in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion...
, indicate that the use of the place as a sanctuary extended to Iberian and Roman times.
Near the paintings there is a cemetery with tombs carved into the rock.
The dancers of Cogul
At Roca dels Moros there are forty-five figures, of which thirty-eight are painted bright red, black and dark red, seven are engraved on stone.A dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
scene is the most famous of the paintings. Nine women are depicted, something new in Spanish art. Some are painted in black and others in red. They were seen dancing around a male figure with abnormally large phallus
Phallus
A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...
. Along with humans, there are several animals.
Discovery and conservation
The paintings were discovered in 1908 by the village rector, Ramon Huguet, and a report was published in the same year. The first prehistorians to study the paintings, such as Henri BreuilHenri Breuil
Henri Édouard Prosper Breuil , often referred to as Abbé Breuil, was a French Catholic priest, archaeologist, anthropologist, ethnologist and geologist...
and Juan Cabré, took the view that Levantine rock art belonged to the palaeolithic. There is now a consensus that the paintings are post-palaeolithic, although uncertainty persists as to their date.
Conservation work has been carried out on the paintings under the auspices of the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya. There are plans to build a visitors centre to interpret the site and to promote Cogul in the context of a "route of rock art", linking it to similar sites in Catalonia such as Abrics de l’Ermita at Ulldecona
Ulldecona
Ulldecona is a town in the South of Catalonia, in Montsià , near the Senia River. Ulldecona is part of the Taula del Sénia free association of municipalities....
.