El abrigo de Barranco Gómez (Castellote, Teruel), un nuevo conjunto con arte levantino en el núcleo rupestre del Guadalope

Abstract

This paper presents the discovery of a new site with Levantine art in the middle reach of the Guadalope river: Barranco Gomez. It also analysis a particular theme of this artistic tradition: the honey hunting scenes. Highlights of this site include the better preserved and more complex honey hunting scene of this tradition, developed in two different levels (wall and ceiling). In it, a climber, with facial traits, climbs up a rope ladder made up of rope loops. This scene shows an advanced use of rope-making techniques as well as in-depth knowledge of climbing techniques. Analysing the scene we deduce that the rope ladder was first installed from the top of the cliff to later climb from the bottom. This new sort of stirrup ladder is associated to an intermediate anchor point (a stick) firmly attaching it to the rock. Other scenes at this site include: archers marching, a deer hunt, and a hind looking back with a unique trait on its snout. The stylistic and thematic analysis of the human figures suggests, at least, three different decorative phases at this site as well as territorial connections with other areas of the northern region of Levantine rock art.