The Palaeolithic art of Tito Bustillo cave (Asturias, Spain) in its archaeological context

In this paper we analyze cave and portable graphic expressions of Tito Bustillo cave (Asturias, Spain) in relation to their archaeological context. We use an integrative approach that considers graphic expressions, archaeological objects and organized underground spaces as integrative parts of the Upper Palaeolithic human behaviors in the caves. We conclude that Tito Bustillo is an outstanding case of humanized cave, in which the underground space was humanized through graphic expressions, permanent structures, topographic marking systems and other daily-life activities since the beginnings of the Upper Palaeolithic. During the Middle and Upper Magdalenian this process of humanization significantly increased, as shown by the development of a large living site sharing spaces with the most decorated areas of the cave.