Cueva de Ardales
Spain · Europe
Neanderthal paintings dated to 65,000 years ago rewrote the history of art
Age
~65,000 yrs
Period
Pre–Homo sapiens
Setting
Cave
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1821
Status
Open to Visitors
Uranium-thorium dating revealed that stalagmite formations were painted with red ochre over 65,000 years ago — long before Homo sapiens reached Europe — suggesting Neanderthal authorship and upending our understanding of the origins of symbolic art.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ 65,000-yr-old Painted Stalagmites
- ◦ Possible Neanderthal Art
- ◦ Red Ochre Abstract Shapes
Depicted Subjects
Red Abstract MarksAnimalsGeometric Forms
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.