Prehistoric Rock Markings in Wales Confirmed as Oldest Known Cave Art in Northwestern Europe
A set of red stripes in Bacon Hole, a cave in south Wales, has been confirmed as Britain's earliest known cave art, dating back approximately 17,100 years. Initially discovered in 1912 by professors William Sollas and Henri Breuil, the markings were first identified as prehistoric paintings but were later dismissed in 1928 as natural mineral deposits. Recent research led by Dr. George Nash has used uranium-thorium dating and lab analysis to establish that the pigment is a human-made mix of calcite and clay, applied intentionally by human hands. The findings suggest the cave may have served as a shelter for hunter-fisher-gatherers, with the red bands possibly functioning as a communication system or tally marks.