Rock arts are man-made paintings on natural surface or on stones which are highly sophisticated way of expressing complex beliefs about the supernatural world. They played a role in prehistoric religion, possibly in connection with ancient myths or the activities of shamans. To record historical details, rock arts can be found across every nation and depicts the history of any culture.
Some art seems to depict real events whilst many other examples are apparently entirely abstract. Some archaeologists think that the paintings were created to bring good fortune to a hunt as a kind of spiritual exercise.
Let’s explore some oldest rock arts across the world.
- Cave of Altamira, Spain: It was discovered in 1868 by Modesto Cubillas. Cave of Altamira is the most ancient cave located in Northern Spain. In a true manner it is treat for those who have great interest in history. It is renowned for prehistoric parietal cave art featuring charcoal drawings and polychrome paintings of contemporary local fauna and human hands.
- Lascaux, France: This cave is also known as Sistine Chapel of Prehistory. Nowadays the original arts of this cave are closed because it is too precious and need some extra precautions and protection to maintain. Over 600 parietal wall paintings cover the interior walls and ceilings of the cave.
- Maltravieso cave, Cáceres: Best known for it’s red hand stencil, Maltravieso Cave is situated in Spain. It is said that this rock arts are made by a Neanderthal around 64000 years ago. Discovered in 1961, the cave shows traces of human occupation from the Middle Paleolithic.
- Apollo 11 Cave, South-Western Namibia: In Africa it is considered as the most ancient rock art. Seven grey-brown quartzite slabs, each smaller than an adult hand, were found with images drawn in charcoal and ochre during excavations in the cave in 1969 by German archaeologist W.E. Wendt. The discovery occurred at the time of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, and the shelter was given the same name to celebrate the momentous event.
- Sulawesi Cave, Indonesia: Archaeologists have discovered the world’s oldest known cave art — a life-sized picture of a wild pig that was painted at least 45,500 years ago in Indonesia. The cave painting uncovered in South Sulawesi consists of a figurative depiction of a warty pig, a wild boar that is endemic to this Indonesian island.