Cueva de La Pasiega, Paleolithic cave art site in Puente Viesgo, Spain
Cueva de La Pasiega is a Paleolithic art cave in Puente Viesgo consisting of interconnected passages carved through limestone rock. The galleries hold hundreds of paintings and engravings depicting animals and abstract patterns created by early inhabitants.
The cave was discovered in 1911 during archaeological work in the area, when researchers investigated ancient sites in the region. This find helped scholars understand early human artistic practices.
The walls display images of animals and geometric shapes painted with red ochre and black pigment. These artworks likely held meaning for the people who hunted and lived in the region.
Visiting requires advance booking, and tours operate in small groups to protect the site. A guide leads visitors through the passages and explains the artworks along the way.
Some of the marks and patterns inside may have been made by Neanderthals rather than modern humans, reaching back tens of thousands of years. This finding pushes back the timeline of when artistic expression began.
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