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Cave Art

All articles tagged with #cave art

DNA on the Walls: Ancient Human Clues Found in Prehistoric Rock Art
science5 days ago

DNA on the Walls: Ancient Human Clues Found in Prehistoric Rock Art

Scientists retrieved ancient human DNA from calcite crusts on cave walls and pigment on rock art across 11 caves in Spain and Portugal, a first that could someday help identify the artists behind prehistoric paintings. DNA was found in 24 painted panels, though only a few samples yielded usable ancient DNA, and ages are uncertain—likely at least a couple of thousand years old. The DNA may have been deposited via saliva or fluids during art creation, and some samples from unpainted cave areas also contained human DNA. While it raises exciting possibilities, researchers caution that it isn’t yet sure the DNA belongs to the artists, and future work will refine methods and expand sampling to more sites.

via The Times of India|
#ancient-dna#archaeology#cave-art
Ancient Human DNA Found on Cave Walls, Rewriting the Story of Prehistoric Art
science12 days ago

Ancient Human DNA Found on Cave Walls, Rewriting the Story of Prehistoric Art

An international team reports the first recovery of ancient human DNA from cave-wall calcite on 24 rock-art panels across 11 caves in Spain and Portugal, including Escoural and Altamira. The DNA traces, sometimes found on painted or unpainted walls, imply people touched or lingered at these sites thousands of years ago and may record movement and activity beyond what the art alone shows. In some samples, nuclear DNA aligns with Western Hunter-Gatherers and allows occasional sex inferences; the Escoural painted sample yielded ancient mitochondrial DNA, while an Altamira pigment sample showed DNA fragments but no strong ancient signal. The human DNA is at least 4,000–5,000 years old, with uncertain dating, and researchers caution that sampling remains destructive. If refined, this approach could help map cave use, gender distribution, and possibly which groups created or interacted with the art, adding a new dimension to prehistoric studies.

via ZME Science|
#ancientdna#archaeology#cave-art
science-and-archaeology13 days ago

Ancient DNA Surfaces on Cave Walls, Illuminating Ice Age Humans

Researchers analyzing cave-wall samples from Altamira, Escoural, and Covarrón found ancient human DNA preserved on pigment crusts and even unpigmented areas. Of 54 samples, five yielded authentic mitochondrial DNA (three women, one man, one unidentified), with some nuclear DNA linking individuals to Western Hunter-Gatherers. Preservation was rare (1 of 24 panels), suggesting cave walls can archive genetic traces of prehistoric visitors and offering a new, noninvasive way to study who touched the walls and how far Ice Age people ventured.

via Ancient Origins|
#altamira#ancient-dna#cave-art
Ancient human DNA preserved on Iberian cave walls reshapes prehistoric study
science16 days ago

Ancient human DNA preserved on Iberian cave walls reshapes prehistoric study

A multinational team led by Hipólito Collado recovered human DNA over 2,000 years old from cave-wall surfaces in Spain and Portugal, showing rock surfaces can preserve genetic material and enabling archaeogenetic study of prehistoric populations. Analyzed 24 rock-art panels across 11 caves (including Escoural and Covarón); the findings, published in Nature Communications as part of the First Art project, suggest caves could act as biological archives for ancient humans.

via Euronews.com|
#ancient-dna#archaeogenetics#cave-art
Indonesia's ancient hand stencils reveal oldest cave art at 67,800 years
science5 months ago

Indonesia's ancient hand stencils reveal oldest cave art at 67,800 years

Dating from the Liang Metanduno cave on Sulawesi's Muna Island, hand stencils are about 67,800 years old, making them the oldest known cave art. The technique involved blowing pigment over a pressed hand, and the find suggests early Indonesians created sophisticated art long before similar European examples, with potential links to the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians.

via NBC News|
#anthropology#archaeology#cave-art
Neanderthals Used Ocher Crayons for Symbolic Art
archaeology8 months ago

Neanderthals Used Ocher Crayons for Symbolic Art

Evidence suggests Neanderthals made and used ocher crayons for drawing or marking, with wear marks indicating they were used on soft surfaces. A 73,000-year-old drawing from South Africa and carved ocher pieces from Crimea demonstrate that Neanderthals engaged in complex cultural and artistic activities, challenging the view that they lacked symbolic or aesthetic behavior.

via Ars Technica|
#archaeology#cave-art#cultural-practices
"Pareidolia Unveiled: Ancient Cave Paintings Reveal Mind-Bending Illusions"
archaeology2 years ago

"Pareidolia Unveiled: Ancient Cave Paintings Reveal Mind-Bending Illusions"

A new study suggests that Ice Age cave art, dating back 40,000 years, was influenced by pareidolia, a phenomenon where humans see meaningful shapes in random patterns. Researchers found that many cave paintings in Northern Spain incorporated natural features of the cave walls, indicating that artists were influenced by both pareidolia and their own creativity. The study also explored the role of lighting conditions and advances our understanding of the experiences and influences of Upper Palaeolithic artists.

via SciTechDaily|
#archaeology#cave-art#ice-age
"Remarkable Discovery: Ancient Human Nest Unearthed in French Cave System"
archaeology2 years ago

"Remarkable Discovery: Ancient Human Nest Unearthed in French Cave System"

Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery in the Grotte de Cussac cave in France, where the remains of prehistoric hunter-gatherers were found in man-made "nests" deep inside the cave system. The skeletons, belonging to the Gravettian culture of the European Upper Paleolithic, shed light on burial rituals and provide insights into the social complexity of Paleolithic humans. The cave is also adorned with cave art, making it a unique site where mortuary rites and art likely coexisted. The findings offer valuable clues about our ancestors' way of life and death.

via Express|
#archaeology#burial-rituals#cave-art