Can small vertebrates tell us something about Palaeolithic rock art?

To know the answer, you have to read the contribution of Juan Rofes (Associate professor of UPSA) to this fantastic paper published in Scientific Reports, the “younger sibling” of Nature. Besides, you will learn about the complexity of the artistic production inside caves during the Upper Palaeolithic. There is careful planning prior to artistic production in terms of iconography, location, and lighting systems. The data shows the almost 50 engraved and painted animals of Atxurra cave (Spain) were designed to be seen by third parties from different positions and were expressly illuminated for this purpose. Rock art was an exciting visual communication system in Upper Palaeolithic societies!

written by J Rofes, October 2023

Co-author Juan Rofes is an Associate Professor of the UP School of Archaeology and head of its Zooarchaeological Laboratory.