Carvings may predate oldest known cave art by 100,000 years, researchers say
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Archaeologists in Spain have uncovered what could be the oldest known rock carvings made by humans likely over 200,000 years old – a find that could transform our understanding of human presence in Europe.
Researchers reported the discovery of a simple ‘X’ shaped graphic design on a stone block during an archaeological excavation at the Coto Correa site in the Las Chapas district of Southern Spain’s Marbella municipality.
Previous digs in and around the site had uncovered some of the oldest stone tools found in Europe dating back to the early Paleolithic era.
Subsequent excavations in the district have unravelled more early human stone tools helping date the site.
One of these discoveries includes a giant block of stone found in 2022, which stands out with simple line engravings.
Carving on stone block could be over 200,000 years old
Carving on stone block could be over 200,000 years old (Marbella Town Council)
These line carvings confirm the presence of settlers in southern Spain during the Early Middle Paleolithic, “a period little known in Spain and unprecedented in the province of Malaga”, according to researchers.
The engravings on the stone could also be the oldest known carvings made by humans, researchers say.
Until now, the earliest known stone tools date from between 1,500,000 to 100,000 BC, confirming the presence of prehistoric humans in the Marbella region during a period when modern humans began migrating out of Africa.
However, early analysis of the giant block of stone suggests the carvings could be about 200,000 years old, likely predating the oldest known cave art by 100,000 years.
“This unique stone, which contains a set of graphic representations of human origin could be 100,000 years older than the oldest cave art depictions,” the Marbella City Council said in a statement.
Scientists are conducting further assessments to confirm the dating of the stone and the carving.
“The techniques applied for absolute dating consist of quartz analysis of different sediment samples, which will allow for a precise chronology of the samples,” the city council said.
Archaeological museum in central Türkiye offers visitors captivating journey through time
STORY: Archaeological museum in central Türkiye offers visitors captivating journey through timeSHOOTING TIME: Recent footageDATELINE: March 5, 2025LENGTH: 00:01:48LOCATION: ISTANBUL, TürkiyeCATEGORY: CULTURESHOTLIST:1. various of the museum2. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): IZZET ESEN, Director of the museumSTORYLINE:Located in the Kirsehir province in Türkiye's Central Anatolia region, the Kaman-Kalehoyuk Archaeological Museum has impressed many visitors with a captivating journey through time. The museum offers tourists a unique opportunity to witness ongoing excavation work and explore the evolvement of ancient civilizations. Launched in 2010 as a grant by the Japanese government within the framework of a cultural heritage protection project, the museum displays remarkable artifacts unearthed in the area since 1986 by a joint team of Japanese and Turkish archaeologists. The collection spans from the early Bronze Age till today, with artifacts from the Hittites, Phrygians, Romans, Byzantines, and the Ottoman Empire.The museum also features Chinese porcelain from the Ottoman Empire, dating from the 1500s to the 1800s. The museum is committed to engaging guests in hands-on experiences that bring history to life. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): IZZET ESEN, Director of the museum"It is especially desired that children interact with these artifacts, so that by touching, feeling, and perceiving the original materials produced by people who lived thousands of years ago, they can perhaps establish a connection with those days."In 2011, the museum earned the "Best Green Museum" title and was nominated for "Museum of the Year in Europe" in 2012. The complex also boasts the largest botanical garden outside Japan, designed in a Japanese style. The Central Anatolia region's rich history has been shaped by the Hittites, Phrygians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Germiyanids, and Ottomans. Archaeological findings even reveal traces of human settlement from the dawn of civilization. Türkiye has stepped up archaeological excavations in recent years. According to Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the annual number of archaeological projects rose from 670 in 2021 to 720 in 2023. This number stood at 765 in 2024 and is expected to reach 800 by 2026. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.(XHTV)
Archaeological museum in central Türkiye offers visitors captivating journey through time
Researchers also hope to conduct a high-resolution 3D scanning of the rock to obtain a virtual composite of the set of marks.
“This will allow the entire surface to be studied in maximum detail, allowing for the identification of working marks and graphic elements,” the Marbella City Council said.
The Stone Age humans who made these markings were likely part of an early wave of human migrants leaving Africa and into Europe, scientists suspect.
If confirmed to be the oldest human-made rock carvings, the Coto Correa site could become key to understanding human migration and settlement across the continent, they say.