Work at the Cova de San Xoán Vello is shedding light on a long sequence of human activity, with evidence ranging from prehistoric mining to medieval religious worship.
The site, near Ribadeo in Galicia, has been under study since 2021. Excavations began after reports of unauthorised digging led to the discovery of human remains. A team led by archaeologist Rebeca Blanco has since documented several distinct phases of use.
Inside the cave, researchers uncovered the remains of a small chapel. The structure is rectangular, with a defined apse at one end. Tests on the mortar date it to the 12th or 13th century. Its position within the cave suggests the space had been adapted for Christian worship rather than built as a conventional church.
A burial area was also identified nearby. The condition of the graves varies, with many affected by damp conditions. The burials themselves are simple, with few objects placed alongside the dead.
One detail appears consistently: coins dated between the 16th and 18th centuries were found in each grave. These coins had been altered, indicating reuse. Their presence points to continued burial activity at the site well after the chapel was first built.
Below these layers, the team also found signs of earlier use. Parts of the cave show traces of rock removal, likely linked to mining. Based on the surrounding context, this activity may go back to the Iron Age and extend into the Roman period. A nearby hilltop settlement with known mining evidence supports that reading.
Researchers also note the presence of iron-rich minerals in the cave. Water moving through such material can take on distinctive properties, which in other contexts have been linked to ritual or symbolic use. This may help explain why the location remained important even after its original function changed.
The sequence at the site does not point to continuous occupation in the strict sense. Instead, different groups appear to have returned to the same place over time, using it in different ways. Early extraction activity was followed by a phase linked to belief or ritual, then by Christian use with the construction of the chapel, and later by its role as a burial ground.
The excavation was prompted by a report from the MariñaPatrimonio group, which flagged signs of disturbance. Their involvement led to formal investigation and protection of the site.
Further work is planned. The team aims to clarify the extent of the mining activity and examine whether there was a small monastic community connected to the chapel.
Sources : Mariña Patrimonio