In Spain, a joint team of archaeologists and speleologists explored the Cova de la Vila and documented more than a hundred previously unknown prehistoric images. Scientists note that these ancient drawings are unique.
According to Arkeonews, the team that unearthed the prehistoric works of art in the Cova de la Vila described them as “exceptional, both for their uniqueness and for their excellent state of preservation.” The discovery was made in the region of La Febro, in the southwest of Catalonia.
In total, the researchers found more than 100 prehistoric drawings depicted on an eight-meter stone panel. Experts believe that the composition reflected the worldview of agricultural societies of that time. One of its characteristics is that it is made exclusively in the engraving technique using stone or wood tools.
The drawings mainly depict figures resembling horses and cows, as well as the sun and stars. A large number of schematic representations were found on one of the cave walls. So, one of the old engravings consists of five horizontal lines located one above the other. Below are various figures, including quadrupeds. Here you can see zigzag and straight lines, as well as circles. There is also a figure similar to an “idol with eyes”.
The distribution of the various elements suggests that it could have been a general composition. The scan helped establish that the drawings were created during the transition period between the Eneolithic and the Bronze Age, that is, between 5,000 and 3,000 BC. In Catalonia, this type of drawing games are very rare in underground caves. In general, several caves with sets of prehistoric drawings are known in Spain, among which the Valmayor cave in Albignana, the caves of La Pileta and Nerja in Malaga, La Murcelagina in Córdoba and Los Enebralejos in Segovia, Galera del Flex in Burgos and Maya in Soria. However, no such engravings were found on any of them.
The newly discovered images are said to be in exceptionally good condition. However, human intervention can change the internal climate of the cave, upset the balance of atmospheric conditions, which has been established for millennia, including humidity. This creates a risk of destruction of the panel. Therefore, after conducting the necessary investigations, the scientists sealed the entrance to the cave.
