Archaeologists have uncovered the mystery of the ancient goddess cult thanks to 120 inscriptions

Archaeologists have discovered more than 120 Latin inscriptions in the Spanish cave of Cova Dones, which may make it the largest known Roman cave sanctuary with inscriptions in the former empire. The discovery not only helped scientists learn more about a previously unknown goddess, whom believers called Domina — "Mistress" — but also showed that women played a prominent role in the rituals of the ancient cult. The study was led by Virginia Barsiela from the Institute of Archaeology and Historical Heritage at the University of Alicante and Aitor Ruiz-Redondo from the Institute of Environmental Sciences at the University of Zaragoza. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

An ancient sanctuary has been discovered underground: what the archaeologists found

Researchers working in the Cova Dones cave in eastern Spain discovered at least 120 Latin inscriptions during an expedition in May and June 2026, mainly dating back to the I–II centuries AD. According to Arkeonews magazine, the discovery has significantly expanded scientists' understanding of the site: before that, only about 15 inscriptions were known inside the cave.

The inscriptions were discovered in what scientists call a "Roman sanctuary." It is located more than 200 m from the cave entrance and was first discovered in 2024. Inside the room there are natural depressions with water — the so-called herds. Roman visitors left various objects next to them, which may indicate the important role of water in the rituals performed here.

Who was worshipped in the cave: the mysterious goddess Domina

One of the main discoveries was five votive inscriptions dedicated to the same goddess. The researchers found that in the texts she was called Domina, which translates as "Mistress".

Three inscriptions also contain the word MALACI, presumably a previously unknown epithet or local name of the deity. Its exact meaning remains unclear. Scientists are considering the possibility that it could be associated with water, since the sanctuary was located next to natural springs inside the cave.

The repetition of the same name in several inscriptions has become an important proof that we are not talking about a random set of religious messages, but about a place dedicated to a specific cult. The very location of the texts also indicates the special status of the room: the inscriptions are located far from the entrance, in a separate area where visitors had to go specifically for rituals.

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Women at the center of the cult: what the names and findings told

The new inscriptions allowed scientists to obtain rare evidence of the possible participation of women in the religious life of the Roman Empire. Several discovered texts contain female names, which provides direct evidence that women visited the underground sanctuary and participated in its religious practice.

In addition, archaeologists have found numerous spinning wheels — small objects that were used in the manufacture of threads. In the ancient Mediterranean, such finds were often associated with weaving and women's domestic labor.

The researchers suggest that whole spindles could have been used as offerings, but their wooden parts have not been preserved. The connection between spinning wheels, female names and the cult of the goddess reinforces the assumption of researchers that women played a significant role in the ritual life of the sanctuary.

Interestingly, the traditional name of the cave itself — Cova de les Dones, which translates as "Cave of Women" — can preserve the memory of this ancient connection. Scientists suggest that the name could be related either to the women who visited this place, or to the mythical creatures that the locals imagined to be the inhabitants of the cave.

The cave, which is more than 24 thousand years old: from ancient art to Roman rituals

The cult of the goddess Domina turned out to be only one part of the long history of Cova-Dones. Research within the framework of the DONARQ project began in 2023, when scientists confirmed the presence in the cave of the largest collection of Paleolithic rock art in the east of the Iberian Peninsula.

According to the publication, new Latin inscriptions have expanded the history of the cave to the Roman period. According to scientists, water, unusual natural shapes and the location of underground rooms could have attracted different communities for thousands of years, who perceived this place as special.

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What else do archaeologists have to learn?

Despite the scale of the discovery, the study of Cova-Dones continues. Many sections of the cave have not yet been fully explored, and some of the inscriptions are still at the stage of cleaning, documenting and deciphering.

In the future, scientists plan to identify the people mentioned in the texts, unravel the meaning of the word MALACI and determine the connection between the inscriptions and the found objects of offerings. Experts are also preparing measures to preserve the site, improve security and create a digital model of the cave, which will allow studying it without the risk of damaging fragile archaeological remains.

According to the researchers, the uniqueness of Cova-Dones lies not only in the number of Roman inscriptions, but also in the rare combination of written evidence, ritual objects, water elements and evidence of women's participation in the ancient cult.

What began as one of the most important discoveries of Spanish Paleolithic art is now becoming a valuable source for studying religious practices, the role of women in ancient cults, and the peculiarities of Roman Spain.