Cueva de El Castillo

Spain · Europe · ✦ UNESCO World Heritage Site

Exceptional

Home to Earth's oldest dated artwork — a red disk over 40,000 years old

Age

~40,800 yrs

Period

Early Aurignacian

Setting

Cave

Art form

Paintings

Discovered

1903

Status

Open to Visitors

⧗ See it on the timeline

Contains some of the oldest cave art on Earth — a red disk dated to at least 40,800 years ago. Its hand stencils may predate the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe, raising profound questions about Neanderthal symbolic thought.

Gallery

Notable Features

◦ Panel of Hands
◦ Red Discs (among oldest known)
◦ Claviform Signs

Depicted Subjects

Hand StencilsHorsesBisonDeerAbstract Signs

Plan a Visit

AccessThis cave can be visited.

Sources & Further Reading

◈ Official site ≡ Wikipedia ✦ UNESCO listing ➤ Directions

Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.