Northern Tsenkher Cave
Mongolia · Asia
A rare Asian Paleolithic site featuring extinct animals like ostriches and mammoths painted in deep red ochre.
Age
~20,000-40,000 yrs
Period
Upper Paleolithic
Setting
Cave
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1972
Status
Open Access
Situated in Khovd Province, this spectacular cave system contains symbols and images painted with white outlines and filled in with reddish ochre. Discovered in 1972, the rock art dates to the Paleolithic period (around 15,000 to 40,000 years ago). The remarkable overlapping palimpsest images feature Ice Age creatures that are no longer found in Mongolia, including mammoths, elephants, and ostriches.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ Images of extinct ostriches and mammoths
- ◦ White outlines with reddish ochre fill
- ◦ Upper Paleolithic palimpsest imagery
Depicted Subjects
MammothsOstrichesElephantsBactrian CamelsLions
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.