PILETA
CAVE, THE RUPESTRAIN ART THREATED!
The archaeological enclave
called La Pileta located in the Serranía de Ronda, Malaga, is one of the most complete
and best conserved whole of parietal paintings found until today.
The family living next to
it is the owner of the place.At this moment ,the fourth generation of descendants from
José Bullon Lobato ( who discovered the perietal paintings in 1905 ) continues to guide
and being custodians of this National Monument (declared so in 1924).
Since the cave was
discoverd,the Bullon family has protected and preserved this enclave from any modification
that could spoil it, (electricity,cement,marketing etc...) showing the exceptional state
of the Rupestrian art in the interior as well as its environment.
This ethical attitude,
maintained by the Bullon family, in beneficial to a partimonio that belongs to all the
persons on the earth and to the future generations, seems to obstract the economical plans
of development that the Andalusien government has for this place.
In 1985 the competence of
Spanish Historical Patrimony was transfered to the Autonomous Communities. The actions
undertaken by the Culture Adviser of Andalucia, has been towards the expropriation of the
place (:>-<, justifying the decision in the public use of this archaeological
enclave.
The expropriation file was
initiated in 1993 and ended in May 2000, being rejected this pretension :.). Immediately
after, the Culture Adviser proposes plans for starting archaeological studies and to
preserve La Pileta, giving the order to close the cave  for two years ?=). The consent of the archaeologist
collective is uncertain and its participation is limited by colleagues depending
professionally on the Culture Advise of Andalusia. :/)
This measure is s severe
blow for the Bullon family. As guides of the cave, ( profession inherited from
father to son) they depend economically on their work and might have to change their
profession to be able to subsist or they will have to sell the cave to the Junta de
Andalusia., who wants to convert La Pileta in to a tourist center. :-$.
The autonomous Community
were obliged by law (1985) to protect and preserve all locations with rupestrian art in
their territories, being those important or not. This law understands these paintings as
an culture interest, wanting a preferential treatment for it, regarding the precarious
state of the rest that are still left.
La Pileta is, with out
doubt, a source of discovery, but it has also got a lot of bibliograpy and its
conservation is appreciated by the international specialised collective, seeing it
as a model to be followed in preservation, regarding the difficult equilibrium
between using and preserving these enclaves because of its tangible microclima. :-)
The investment needed for
this two years long project, would represent the salvation of many locations with
rupestrian art in Andalucia, forgotten and in danger to be despoiled.To earmark public
funds for this study in the Pilelta cave, contradicts the essence of the Historic
Patrimony Law, while there are still places
in danger
of disapperance with parietal paintings in Andalusia. :-(
The moral dept that the
Society has with this family, does not correspond with the Culture Adviser from the
Andalusian Communities will, and the ¿temporary closure? of La Pileta constitutes an
unfair and perverse treatment that Cueva de la Pileta org. complaint in this web. :-)
The Platform (30-06-00)
English version by Micaela Quitzke  |
