A ‘common art culture’ existed across Europe more than 25,000 years ago, analysis of engravings of bison found in caves in Spain has revealed.
Researchers from Spain compared the rock art — found in three caves on the Aitzbitarte Hill in the Basque Country in 2015 — to other art from the continent.
While the engravings matched the style of those found elsewhere in Europe, such design was previously unknown from the Iberian Peninsula.
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A ‘common art culture’ existed across Europe more than 25,000 years ago, analysis of engravings of bison found in caves in Spain has revealed. Pictured, one of the drawings of bison from the Aitzbitarte caves, as seen in photograph, left, and tracing, right
‘The artwork in the Aitzbitarte caves consists mostly of engravings of bison, complete with the animals’ characteristic horns and humps,’ said paper author and archaeologist Diego Garate, of the University of Cantabria, Spain.
The animal’s horns and legs are drawn in a very particular style, he noted — typically without proper perspective.
‘Pairs of limbs are consistently depicted as a “double Y” with both legs visible — and the horns are similarly draw side-by-side with a series of lines in between,’ he added.
The researchers compared their analysis of the Aitzbitarte engravings with other cave art found across Europe — finding that it belonged to an existing art style that appears to have been more widespread and varied than previously appreciated.
‘This is consistent with the artistic style of the Gravettian cultural complex, characterised by specific customs in art, tools, and burial practices between about 34,000 and 24,000 years ago,’ Dr Garate added.
‘This culture is known from across Europe but has not been seen before on the Iberian Peninsula,’ he noted.
Researchers from Spain compared the rock art — found in three caves on the Aitzbitarte Hill in the Basque Country in 2015 — to other art from the continent
While the engravings matched the style of those found elsewhere in Europe, such design was previously unknown from Spain. Pictured, a bird and bison drawn in the Aitzbitarte caves
‘The study analyses the particularities of Palaeolithic animal engravings found in the Aitzbitarte Caves in 2015,’ added Dr Garate.
‘These prehistoric images, mainly depicting bison, were drawn in a way that has never before been seen in northern Spain.’
In fact, he added, they appear in a of fashion ‘that is more characteristic of southern France and some parts of the Mediterranean.’
‘The study has shown the close regional relationships in Western Europe cave art since very early times — at least, 25,000 years ago.’
The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Researchers from Spain compared the rock art — found in three caves on the Aitzbitarte Hill in the Basque Country in 2015 — to other art from the continent
CAVE ART: WORKS DATING BACK AS FAR AS 40,000 YEARS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED
The most famous cave art can be found in Spain and France, but it exists throughout the world.
The famed Upper Palaeolithic cave art of Europe dates back to around 21,000 years ago.
In recent years scholars have recorded cave art found in Indonesia that is believed to be about 40,000 years old – predating the most popular European cave art.
The new report’s author, Shigeru Miyagawa, explained in the analysis the pervasiveness of cave drawings.
He said: ‘Cave art is everywhere. Every major continent inhabited by homo sapiens has cave art.
‘You find it in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, everywhere – just like the human language.’
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