Posted on 05/29/2016 10:15:47 AM PDT by Red Badger
This image released by the Diputacion Floral de Bizkaia on Friday May 27, 2016, shows a cave drawing. Spanish archaeologists say they have discovered an exceptional set of Paleolithic-era cave drawings that could rank among the best in a country that already boasts some of the world's most important cave art. Chief site archaeologist Diego Garate said Friday that an estimated 70 drawings were found on ledges 300 meters (1,000 feet) underground in the Atxurra cave, Berriatua, in the northern Basque region. He described the site as being in "the Champions' League" of cave art, among the top 10 sites in Europe. (Diputacion Floral de Bizkaia/Source via AP) ======================================================================================================================
Spanish archaeologists say they have discovered an exceptional set of Paleolithic-era cave drawings that could rank among the best in a country that already boasts some of the world's most important cave art.
Chief site archaeologist Diego Garate said Friday that an estimated 70 drawings were found on ledges 300 meters (1,000 feet) underground in the Atxurra cave in the northern Basque region. He described the site as being in "the Champions' League" of cave art, among the top 10 sites in Europe. The engravings and paintings feature horses, buffalo, goats and deer, dating back 12,500-14,500 years ago.
But Garate said access to the area is so difficult and dangerous it's not likely to be open to the public.
The cave was discovered in 1929 and first explored in 1934-35, but it was not until 2014 that Garate and his team resumed their investigations that the drawings were discovered. Experts say while it's too early to say if the discovery ranks alongside Spain's most prize prehistoric cave art site, the Altamira Caves—known as the Sistine Chapel of Paleolithic Art—Atxurra looks promising.
"No one expected a discovery of this magnitude," said Jose Yravedra, a prehistory professor at Madrid's Complutense Univesrsity. "There a lot of caves with drawings but very few have this much art and this much variety and quality."
Altamira and other major sites in Spain and France have several hundred cave-art images.
Garate highlighted one buffalo drawing, which he said must have the most hunting lances stuck in it of any such drawing in Europe. He said most hunting drawings have four or five lances but this had almost 20 and it's not clear why.
Yravedra said given the cave's hidden location and the number, variety and quality of its drawings, the site was being classified as a "sanctuary," or special Paleolithic meeting ritual place, like those at Altamira or Lascaux in France.
Regional officials hope to set up a 3-D display of the art so that the public can appreciate it.
PinGGG!....................
Ayla and Jondalar of the Zelandonii?
That seems really deep for people to have been living. I could see living twenty or thirty meters from the entrance to provide protection against the elements or predators, but 300 meters means you have to have light sources and ventilation for smoke.
Could they have? Sure, but it sounds pretty advanced for cave dwelling early man.
Before the fall when they wrote it on the wall
When there wasn’t even any Hollywood
They heard the call
And they wrote it on the wall
For you and me we understood
Scientists: Underground stone rings made by Neanderthals:
http://phys.org/news/2016-05-scientists-underground-stone-neanderthals.html#nRlv
Neanderthal stone ring structures found in French cave:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36381786
Paleolithic-era Basque minimalist cave artist. Probably wore a fur baret and plotted against the government.
Did you ever notice that Paleolithic-era cave drawings seem to be pretty similar between different locations and times? Maybe there was a school somewhere.
This is from India: https://nteb-mudflowermedia.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/nasa-to-investigate-cave-paintings-with-ufos-933x445.jpg
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