Las Gobas
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Burgos, Spain
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  Shown within Spain | |
| Location | Laño, Junta of Castile and León Burgos, Spain |
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| Coordinates | 42°40′30″N 2°37′39″W / 42.6750°N 2.6275°W |
| Type | Artificial caves (used for residence and burial) |
| History | |
| Periods | 7th to the 11th century CE |
Las Gobas is a cave settlement and necropolis situated in Laño, Burgos, northern Spain, dating from the 7th to the 11th centuries CE.[1] The site features 13 artificial caves. Initially, these caves served both residential and burial functions. Over time, however, the settlement transitioned to solely serving funerary and religious purposes, with the inhabitants moving to a new location in Laño.[1]
Phase I (7th–9th centuries CE)
The name "Las Gobas" specifically refers to a cluster of 13 artificial caves carved into a rocky outcrop. These caves date from the mid-6th century to the 11th century CE, and they include two churches and a variety of single-room cavities of different sizes.[1]
The site is part of a broader complex of medieval cave settlements across Iberia, which have been the subject of much scholarly debate regarding their temporal origins and purposes.[1] Archaeological investigations have identified two distinct phases within the Las Gobas necropolis:
This period is characterized by a mixed use of cave architecture and free-standing structures. It includes a church (referred to as Las Gobas-6) and a cemetery with 22 burials. Evidence from this phase indicates an active settlement with signs of daily life and social activities. The construction of domestic structures outside the church during this time suggests a residential character.[1]
Phase II (10th–11th centuries CE)
In the latter half of the 9th century, the site was abandoned as a living area, and transitioned to solely functioning as a cemetery and place of worship. This change is evidenced by sedimentation layers and the repurposing of a silo as a waste dump. The inhabitants eventually relocated to a new settlement in Laño, distinguishing this phase from the earlier residential use of Las Gobas. Nineteen burials from this period have been discovered at the site.[1]