https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-more-than-100-ancient-drawings-in-spanish-cave-180982898/ Sections Smithsonian Magazine white logo Subscribe Renew Shop [ ] Subscribe Give a Gift Renew * Smart News + History + Science + Innovation + Arts & Culture + Travel * History + Archaeology + U.S. History + World History + Video + Newsletter * Science + Human Behavior + Mind & Body + Our Planet + Space + Wildlife + Newsletter * Innovation + Innovation for Good + Education + Energy + Health & Medicine + Sustainability + Technology + Video + Newsletter * Arts & Culture + Museum Day + Art + Books + Design + Food + Music & Film + Video + Newsletter * Travel + Africa & the Middle East + Asia Pacific + Europe + Central and South America + U.S. & Canada + Journeys + Newsletter * At The Smithsonian + Visit + Exhibitions + New Research + Artifacts + Curators' Corner + Ask Smithsonian + Podcasts + Voices + Newsletter * Podcast * Photos + Photo Contest + Instagram * Video + Ingenuity Awards + Ask Smithsonian + Smithsonian Channel * Newsletters * Shop --------------------------------------------------------------------- SMART NEWS Archaeologists Discover More Than 100 Ancient Drawings in a Spanish Cave Many of the works, estimated to be at least 24,000 years old, employ a rare clay painting technique Teresa Nowakowski Teresa Nowakowski Daily Correspondent September 14, 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Cave chamber One of the archaeologists examines a partially flooded chamber of the cave that holds many of the drawings. Ruiz-Redondo / Barciela / Martorell Two years ago, when a team of archaeologists spotted a painting of an extinct wild bull called an auroch on the wall of a cave in Spain's Cova Dones, located in Millares, near Valencia, they knew it was important. While Spain has the largest number of Paleolithic cave art sites, most are concentrated in the country's northern region, while few have been documented in Eastern Iberia. However, they didn't realize just how significant the newly discovered cave art was until they returned to fully document it. Auroch head The painted head of an auroch, an extinct wild bull, was the first painting archaeologists discovered in the cave. Ruiz-Redondo / Barciela / Martorell "Once we began the proper systematic survey, we realized we were facing a major cave art site, like the ones that can be found elsewhere in Cantabrian Spain, southern France or Andalusia, but that totally lack in this territory," Aitor Ruiz-Redondo, an archaeologist at the University of Southampton and the University of Zaragoza and an author of a new study about the find, says in a statement. Inside, the archaeologists documented more than 100 drawings and engravings, which they believe are at least 24,000 years old, according to the study published last week in Antiquity. The team dated the drawings to the Paleolithic Period by examining weathering on the drawings and claw marks from a cave bear that later became extinct. Among the motifs, or drawings, are at least 19 confirmed animal representations, including hinds, horses, aurochs and deer. Clay horse head Many of the paintings were made with clay, including this horse's head. Ruiz-Redondo / Barciela / Martorell "The cave is arguably the 'most important' Paleolithic rock art site ever discovered on the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the researchers said," Newsweek's Aristos Georgiou writes. The researchers believe it is the Paleolithic cave with the greatest number of motifs discovered in Europe since 2015. One of the most notable parts of this new discovery is the way the drawings were created. While some are etched and others shaded with white mondmilch, a type of limestone precipitate, the majority are clay-based. "Red clay found on the cave floors was the medium of choice for the Cova Dones occupants--rather than the diluted ochre or manganese typically used in other places throughout the region," writes Matthew Ward Agius of Cosmos. "Clay-based painting is a rarely-used technique in Palaeolithic art." Hind heads Two hind head drawings on the cave wall Ruiz-Redondo / Barciela / Martorell Indeed, the rare technique initially proved difficult to spot, as the red clay had been partially covered by calcite over time, reports Hyperallergic's Elaine Velie. "Animals and signs were depicted simply by dragging the fingers and palms covered with clay on the walls," Ruiz-Redondo says in a statement. "The humid environment of the cave did the rest: the 'paintings' dried quite slowly, preventing parts of the clay from falling down rapidly, while other parts were covered by calcite layers, which preserved them until today." Scan prep Ruiz-Redondo prepares for a 3D LiDAR scan of a decorated panel. Ruiz-Redondo / Barciela / Martorell The archaeologists hope their find, especially its unique art techniques, will prove an important contribution to the study of cave art in the area. "We expect that the documentation of this large number of 'clay paintings' in Cova Dones will lead to us and other teams to pay more attention to the presence of this kind of pigments in other caves," Ruiz-Redondo tells Hyperallergic. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. [ ] [Sign Up] Teresa Nowakowski Teresa Nowakowski | | READ MORE Teresa Nowakowski is a print and multimedia journalist based in Chicago. They cover history, arts and culture, science, travel, food and other topics. Recommended Videos Filed Under: Archaeology, Art, Art History, Caves, Cool Finds, Painting, Spain Most Popular 1. The Asteroid Hit by NASA Seems to Be Moving Strangely, High School Students Find icon The Asteroid Hit by NASA Seems to Be Moving Strangely, High School Students Find 2. Alleged Alien Corpses Displayed to Mexican Congress Did Not Convince Scientists icon Alleged Alien Corpses Displayed to Mexican Congress Did Not Convince Scientists 3. Stolen van Gogh Painting Worth Millions Returned in an Ikea Bag icon Stolen van Gogh Painting Worth Millions Returned in an Ikea Bag 4. Archaeologists Discover More Than 100 Ancient Drawings in a Spanish Cave icon Archaeologists Discover More Than 100 Ancient Drawings in a Spanish Cave 5. The Quest to Save the World's Most Coveted Chocolate icon The Quest to Save the World's Most Coveted Chocolate Smithsonian Magazine Logo in Black Explore * Smart News * History * Science * Innovation * Arts & Culture * Travel * At The Smithsonian * Podcast * Photos * Video Subscribe * Subscribe * Give a gift * Renew Newsletters * Sign Up Our Partners * Smithsonian Institution * Smithsonian.com * Smithsonian Store * Smithsonian Journeys * Smithsonian Channel * Smithsonian Books * Smithsonian Membership Terms of Use * About Smithsonian * Contact Us * Advertising * RSS * Member Services * Sustainability * Terms of Use * Privacy Statement * Cookie Policy * Advertising Notice (c) 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Privacy Statement Cookie Policy Terms of Use Advertising Notice Your Privacy Rights Cookie Settings