In love with prehistoric artefacts and places? Here is a list of places to go to and explore ancient cave paintings.
One of the most astonishing discoveries
made by humans was the caves. From living in them to finding the historical artefacts of early men, some caves date back 40,000 years and are archaeological hubs for people. It attracts historians, adventurers, and tourists who travel to these places from all over the world. Wish to witness the ancient paintings made from natural dyes? Here are some sites from around the world where you will find these traditionally crafted paintings.
Altamira
Situated beside the historic city of Santillana del Mar, in Northern Spain, is the cave of Altamira. It holds a top place for Paleolithic cave paintings covering the interior walls of the cave. There are multiple chambers with over 1000 feet of long pictures. It was discovered in 1879 by an amateur archaeologist who recognized the polychrome rock paintings of horses, bison, and human handprints. It is believed to be over 35000 years old and can be attended by people on a lottery basis.
Chauvet Cave
Chauvet Cave is one of the oldest and best-preserved collections of prehistoric paintings. Located near Vallon-Pont-d’Arc in France, the cave is as high as 430 feet, and the pictures date back to 36000 years ago. About 1000 images, including the horse and lion panel, have been the chronicles' source since 1994. The other drawings include mammoths, rhinos, bears, and deer. Even though it is not open for public visits, a part of it is available for six miles to rejoice in the cave’s prehistoric essence.
Cueva De Las Manos
Situated in South America, Cueva De Las Manos is the site of famous prehistoric cave paintings. Discovered in 1941, it holds fascinating rock art depictions of wildlife like llama, guanaco, and flightless birds. The renowned hand stencils date between 9500 and 1300 years and have it a UNESCO site since 1999
El Castillo
Located 15 miles from the Cave of Altamira, Cueva de El Castillo is a prehistoric art collection that dates back 40800 years. It has over 150 paintings, including the stencilled hands with animals like horses, deer, dogs, and mammoths. It is open to visit by tourists and preserved by the autonomous community of Cantabria.
Fumane Cave
Not as famous as the European counterparts, it is located in Northern Italy and contains cave paintings as old as 35,000. Discovered in 1964, it has undergone excavations and can be visited by tourists through a car visit.
