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Hundreds of Ice Age rock art engravings discovered hidden in plain sight
Phys.org • • world
Key Points:
- Archaeologists have uncovered the third-largest collection of Ice Age cave art in Mediterranean Iberia at Cova de la Font Major in Catalonia, a site previously thought to lack Paleolithic art.
- Despite centuries of visitation and even tourist development, 280 Paleolithic motifs were only recently identified, marking the highest concentration of such art in Catalonia.
- This discovery challenges previous assumptions, revealing that northeastern Iberia had its own distinct Paleolithic artistic tradition, different from the well-known Franco-Cantabrian region.
- The abundance of art suggests the region was more densely populated during the Paleolithic era than previously believed, reshaping understanding of prehistoric human activity in the western Mediterranean.
- Published in Antiquity, the findings highlight a unique Mediterranean graphic tradition, enriching knowledge of Paleolithic art beyond established centers.
