Minas Prehistoricas de Silex
There are quite a few prehistoric mines in the Altiplano area, this one is nestled in the Sierra de Orce ridge and has a good elevation. There are several ways to get there, overlanding can see you navigating dirt tracks through the mountains or from the nearby recreation area, alternatively from the South there is a more challenging trail [barranco de corta orejas] which leads from the A92 / Venta Quemada.
This is one of those locations where it is certainly all about the journey and not the destination, if you are going specifically to see the mines then you will probably be disappointed as there is very little to see besides from an old corrugated iron structure in the wood and a couple of elevated wooden walkways.
The location is however ideally situated for a park up, somewhere to stop and chill for a bit and take in the views, the position in the mountains is typical of the surrounding ‘sierras’ where you are surrounded by wooded hillside with views as far as the eye can see, there just so happens to be some mines there too.
Given the rural location of the Minas Prehistoricas de Silex you will probably find yourself the only one there, ideal for some peace and quiet
The lower part of the mines is flat, ideal for parking and there is plenty of space, exposed with no shelter [unless you head off on foot into the woods] the summer months will be hot an best avoided if you suffer in the heat, September perhaps for a cooler breeze to kick back and relax.
Given the rural location of the Minas Prehistoricas de Silex you will probably find yourself the only one there, ideal for some peace and quiet. Our first visit to these mines was way back when we first moved to Spain, back then the wooden fencing and walkways were fairly new, now, having been baked in the Andalucian sun things are feeling fragile and have begun to fall apart, some of the woodwork does not feel stable so a heads up to be cautious.
The neglect, again probably comes from the location of the mines, they are very much out of the way and perhaps they don’t warrant the finances in order to be maintained. Besides this the Minas Prehistoricas de Silex near Orce are a nice ‘pass through’, not worth a day trip though.
Estimados señores, ha sido un placer conocer sus impresiones, siendo el descubridor y arqueólogo director de las excavaciones de la mina de sílex de La Venta, por lo que quedo a vuestra disposición para cualquier cuestión y les traslado mis saludos.