Prehistoric remains are not missing in Gorbeia. Traces of Paleolithic humans have been found in several caves and megaliths are also abundant. There are about ten dolmens in the area, many of them connected to the shepherd’s sarons. But nothing extraordinary has been said here. If the gorbea has something extra, it's the menhirs.

Since Iturralde y Suite researched the first menhirra in 1894, dozens more have been found in the Basque Country, but most are concentrated in the eastern territories. That’s why it’s amazing to find so many menhir in Gorbeia. The last one was found in 2004 in the part of Álava, Sarria. The jewel was in ruins in three pieces, and after being restored, it was collected again in the neck of Albibo, a few meters from the place where it was found.

You could get to it by taking a nice walk. From the parking lot of the Parc de Sarrià a clue is taken against the river Baias. The flat road runs mostly under the woods, and the cattle chants play nice music. After passing several bridges and houses, the track reaches the Puente del Albión, a place where the Arroyo Padrobosco joins Baias. Remember that name. A little further on, another path that goes up the mountain leads directly to the Cerro de la Cuadro. Behind him is the lonely giant.

Monolith with long shadow

It was not easy to find. In 2002, when the area was cleared of weeds, the stone fragments were exposed. But no one noticed. Two years later the monument was discovered by some friends and declared an archaeological heritage by the Archaeological Museum of Álava. They took all the pieces of stone to the park, where they were tied with four bars of iron. Cement and sand were then poured into the holes of the time-warped menhirra.

Once the monument was completed, it was returned to its place among 54 people. Since part of the stone was in its initial position –half embedded in the ground– archaeologists have discovered the exact location and direction of the menhirra. In this way, we can see it today as it did thousands of years ago; but the obligatory wound of this operation – cement – has not yet covered the lichens.

In addition to the restoration, excavations have also been carried out on the neck of the Albicón. Fireworks and remains of a strange stone building have been discovered. This building remains an enigma, new excavation campaigns will tell what it was used for in ancient times. You know, because we know very little about menhirs. An old mule road passes through the Cuarbío Gorge; from this strategic place you can see the Baias Plum on one side and the Sarón de Austingarmín on the other – protected by the Oderiaga Mountain (1245 m). It is clear that the menhirra was not placed by chance: was it an instrument for performing rites? The signal to set the limit?

Following Barandiaran

Going to Austingarmine is worth it. There is another well-known menhir from Gorbeia, which was well researched by Joxe Miel Barandiaran. To do this, it is enough to surround Mount Usategieta (1188 m). The shepherd’s huts are sheltered among the rocks in this corner and the whistles of the boar hunters do not reach there in autumn.

“In May 1922 I explored those areas of Gorbeia (...) At the end of the expedition, as we passed by the neck of Austegarmine (sic), we saw a large slab on the side of the road.” The great stone seen by Barandiaran is the menhirra of Austingarmin. The villagers told the anthropologist that the slab was on other stones before and twenty years ago they took money from it: “Nobody knows who took the money or where they took it.” For this reason, Barandiaran thought that it was the cover of a dolmen and not the menhira, as is evident today.

There are two ways to get back: to go from the same place you came from or to the Ubegi Fountain and then walk through the Padrobosque. If you choose the latter, you should be careful: In Padrobaso the road is lost and with it the traveler is lost. Those who love adventure will love Padrobosque. Here the colors are the colors and the caves are the thieves. When the mountaineer sees the bridge again, he will do only one thing: breathe.