The Archaeological Museum of the Diputación de Alicante (Alicante Provincial Council) inaugurated this morning the exhibition Cova de l'Or: Site museum, research, protection and opening of a sanctuary from the 6th millennium BC'.This coincides with the adaptation of the Interpretation Centre of this enclave and of the Beniarrés archaeological site itself for its opening to the public with a guided tour service.
This was announced this morning by the first vice-president and deputy for culture, Julia Parrawho presented the exhibition together with the mayor of Beniarrés, Miguel Ángel Sanchísthe managing director of the MARQ Foundation, José Alberto Cortésthe director of MARQ, Manuel Olcinaand the curators of the exhibition, Jorge Soler and Rafael Pérez.
The head of Culture stressed "the importance of having a new museum space thanks to the work of all the technical, scientific and administrative teams that have been taking the necessary steps for seven years to make the Cova de l'Or a cultural and tourist attraction".
For his part, Sanchís also highlighted the impact that this site will have on rural tourism and invited the public to come to the MARQ these days "to find out what has been found inside the cave with a proposal for all audiences".
The curator of Prehistory and curator of the exhibition, Jorge Soler, explained that the aim of this new proposal is to highlight the value of this important archaeological site in the Benicadell mountain range which has proved essential for knowledge of the Neolithic on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. As of January, and thanks to an agreement between the MARQ Foundation and the Beniarrés Town CouncilThe tour is of cultural and scenic interest and includes the cave and the Interpretation Centre of the site, which has been declared a World Heritage Site. Bien de Interés Cultural.
Developed by the Department of Architecture of the Provincial Council of AlicanteThe work began in 2016, culminating in 2020. Representing this area, Rafael Pérez, also curator of the exhibition, explained that the evocation of the sanctuary has inspired the adaptation project to recover the mouth of the cavity, cleaning the interior and placing human-scale figures under the oculus of the entrance. In addition, the exterior has been fitted out for visits and the access has been improved with a walkway that allows visitors to visit the interior and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of those early Neolithic times. These works have required a investment of 105,000 euros 25,000 more for conservation and dissemination.
Discovered in the 1930s, various archaeological excavations have been carried out in the area. The most fruitful campaigns were directed in the 1950s by Vicente Pascual Pérez and in the 1970s and 1980s by Bernat Martí Oliveraffecting areas close to the entrance. In the 21st century, the MARQ proposed several interventions in relation to the project to enhance and open up the cave, which have led to a better understanding of the mouth of the cave and its surroundings.
The material elements found in the Cova de l'Or bear witness to the importance of the occupation in the Ancient Neolithic (5500-5000 BC), when the cave was a suitable place for habitation. The discovery of an important ceramic repertoire symbolic marks it as a special place, a sanctuary where ceremonies and rites may have been performed.
