Escoural Cave, Prehistoric cave art site in Santiago do Escoural, Portugal
Escoural Cave is a prehistoric rock art site in Santiago do Escoural containing a network of horizontal chambers decorated with paintings and engravings of animals, particularly horses and cattle. The artworks spread across the walls display different techniques developed by the people who lived here.
The site was discovered in 1963 during quarry blasting and revealed evidence of human presence spanning tens of thousands of years. Finds from the excavations show that people used this location continuously from the Middle Stone Age through the Late Stone Age.
The rock art shows hand stencils and animal figures created by early hunter-gatherers who lived here thousands of years ago. When you walk through the cave, these images help you understand how these ancient people saw and related to the world around them.
Visits require advance booking through the Interpretation Centre, with groups limited to a maximum of 10 people. Reserving your spot ahead of time ensures you can see the cave without disappointment.
This is the only known location in Portugal where you can see paintings and engravings from the Old Stone Age. Its accidental discovery during a quarry accident turned out to be unusually valuable for understanding prehistoric peoples.
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