Archaeologists Reclassify Striped Rock as UK's Oldest Cave Art, Impacting Historical Understanding
A striped rock initially dismissed as a natural phenomenon in 1928 has been reclassified as the oldest cave art in the UK, dating back 17,100 years. The discovery was made in Bacon Hole, a cave near the Mumbles in South Wales. Dr. George Nash, a specialist in prehistoric art, led the research team that used uranium-thorium dating to confirm the age of the rock art. The painted panel, featuring horizontal bands in red pigment, was originally discovered in 1912 by professors William Sollas and Henri Breuil. The reclassification of the rock art provides significant insights into prehistoric life in Britain and north-western Europe.