History
Archaeological discoveries in the nearby Cueva de Belda confirm that it was inhabited during Prehistoric Times. The cave is also renowned for its stalactites and stalagmites, and it is a bat refuge.
Cuevas de San Marcos was inhabited during the Roman period, when fertile lands along the Genil River supported agricultural activity. Later, during the Muslim period (8th–15th centuries), it formed part of the frontier territory of al-Andalus. The remains preserve the layout of the settlement, including the foundations of houses, a water cistern, defensive structures, and other features that provide valuable insight into medieval rural life.
Following the Christian conquest of the Kingdom of Granada in the late 15th century, the area was gradually repopulated. The present-day village developed around a chapel dedicated to Saint Mark (San Marcos), from whom the municipality takes its name. Agriculture, particularly olive cultivation and cereal farming, has remained central to the local economy ever since.