🎨 Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
Paleolithic hand stencils and animal paintings in Cantabria, Spain, dating 36,000–13,000 years ago
📌 Fast Facts
- Location: Cantabria, northern Spain
- Caves: 17 decorated sites across Monte Castillo complex
- Artworks: Over 275 paintings and engravings
- UNESCO inscription: 1985
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain is a Paleolithic art complex in Cantabria that contains some of Europe's oldest documented hand stencils and animal paintings. The ensemble of 17 decorated caves preserves over 275 paintings and engravings spanning 36,000 to 13,000 years ago, offering direct evidence of how hunter-gatherers perceived and depicted their world during the Pleistocene epoch. The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. As of 2026, the ...