Cueva de El Castillo, Spain

The unique cave Cueva de El Castillo was found in Cantabria, Spain. For a long period of time the cave didn’t attract modern people. The cave’s entrance was so small that the only possible way to get there was on the hands and knees. There were found one of the most ancient petroglyphs in the world. Their age goes up to 40 000 years. On the pictures were depicted bisons, horses, some parts are devoted to the hunting.

There is no strong evidence that these paintings belong to the hand of our predecessors. Some researchers say that the petroglyphs belong to the brush of the Neanderthals but they don’t claim it. During the numerous researching it was knew that the first people have stayed there over 150 000 years ago. Cueva del Castillo was discovered in 1903 by Hermilio Alcalde del Río, a Spanish archaeologist.

The cave has spread over 275 meters long. Except petroglyphs there also were found many other unique artifacts. Among them were the parts of ancient bludgeons, engraving harpoons. Their age is about 16 000 years. One of the most outstanding founds was the people’s handprints. They were put on the wall with the special paint. Handprints age goes up to 37 000 years. That means that the first cave inhabitants were not the Neanderthals but the Cro-Magnon man. Next - Arnhem Land Plate