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33,000 BCE
Altamira Cave
Discovered by Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola during the 19th century, the Altamira Cave in northern Spain was the original cave where prehistoric paintings were found. During this time many people believed that there was no way prehistoric people had the intellectual capability to create such art. Because these paintings were made so long ago, it wasn't until later on people acknowledged the art as genuine. -
23,000 BCE
Serra da Capivara
The Clovis people found rock shelters in Serra da Capivara National Park (In northeast Brazil) covered in cave paintings. Many researchers believe that some of the oldest paintings in the shelters were created about 25,000 years ago. This hasn't been proven as fact as it is accepted that human settlement in the Americas came later on. -
14,000 BCE
Lascaux Paintings
The Lascaux Caves are located near the village of Montignac, in southwest France. These complex caves have some of the most impressive cave paintings in the world and have been estimated to be about 17,000 years old. The paintings were located further from the entrance meaning that candles would have been used to make the paintings. These paintings were discovered by Marcel Ravidat. -
13,000 BCE
Bhimbetka
Bhimbetka, Bhopal, located in central India, holds more than 600 rock shelters covered in paintings made as early as about 10,000 BC. These paintings have been layered over different periods of time such as the Mesolithic, Upper Paleolithic Era to the early historic, protohistoric, and medieval ages. The cave drawings were discovered by an archeologist named Dr. Vishnu Wakankar. -
Period: 9000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Laas Gaal
A French archaeological team found some of the oldest known rock art within the Horn of Africa, in the Laas Gaal rock shelter (Somalia). They couldn't find an exact date for the time the paintings but they do know they were made around 9000-3000 BC. The prehistoric paintings were well preserved and maintained strong colors and outlines. -
7000 BCE
Cueva de las Manos
In an isolated region in southern Argentina the Cueva de las Manos cave has a rock art hand painting panel, designed by inhabitants 9,000 years ago. The majority of the hands are left hands, which suggests that the painters held spraying pipes using their right hand. These paintings were discovered by English settlers. -
Period: 3600 BCE to 6000 BCE
Magura Cave Paintings
The Magura Cave, located in Bulgaria, is one of the largest caves in the northwest portion of the country. Over 700 prehistoric drawings were discovered on its cave walls. These paintings date back to around 8000 to 4000 years ago. The Bulgarian Council of Ministers discovered these paintings.
