Before formal writing systems existed, prehistoric peoples told stories through what we know as cave paintings. The idea that these cave paintings survived thousands of years, through wars, technological advances and natural disasters, is impressive. It catches our attention and intrigues us. Around the world, cave paintings offer a glimpse into what prehistoric life was like, from ancient flora and fauna to spiritual or ritual ceremonies and the paramount importance of hunting.
In France we have, for example, the Lascaux cave, discovered in 1949 by a group of teenagers in southwestern France, in 1940. After young people shared their discovery, the group of cave paintings became a tourist spot very crowded. It is usually called the Prehistoric Sistine Chapel . Exposure to the elements, and constant foot traffic, led to an alarming deterioration of the cave paintings, resulting in the closure of the site to the public in 1963 . Although it is no longer possible to enter the main caves, precise replicas have been made so that all visitors can enjoy this prehistoric art. The paintings feature more than 6,000 figures, most of them on abstract, animal or human themes. Lascaux houses some of the oldest cave paintings that still exist today, referring to the Upper Paleolithic.
In Bulgaria is the Magura cave, in the northwest of the country, and contains a collection of cave paintings, painted with bat droppings dating from 8000-4000 years ago. Up to 700 paintings have been discovered in the great cave, depicting people dancing and hunting, as well as a wide range of animals.
In Italy we can see the cave of the deer, from 6,000-5,000 BC, it receives this name for the numerous paintings of these animals. The cave complex was discovered in 1970, and the cave paintings date back to the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. There are more than 3,000 separate figures throughout the cave, which were drawn with bat droppings and red clay.
In Spain we have a large number of prehistoric caves of great archaeological value. We collected some of these places today. You will find these and other corners in the Lonely Planet “One hour from … 900 fantastic getaways from 50 Spanish cities” guide.
