Cave Paintings
Lascaux updated 02/2015 France
A cave in France filled with amazing rock paintings and engravings. The most interesting pre-historic painted cave in Europe
Chauvet updated 09/2016 France
These are the most fascinating cave paintings I have seen. With a high level of artistic skill the created animal scenes look so natural but nevertheless so dynamic and powerful in their movement. UNESCO World Heritage Site
Font de Gaume, Combarelles & Rouffignac published 09/2022 France
These three fascinating decorated caves near Lascaux are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites and span the time horizon from Aurignacian to Magdalenean
Altamira published 10/2019 Spain
There are many Paleolithic caves in Spain, but Altamira is number one. Here you see single color black and red images as well as multi-color paintings of high artistic skill
Monte Castillo published 12/2023 Spain
This is one of the most important north spanish sites with 4 painted caves next to each other and each is so different in its motives, but horses dominate the repertoire
Cullavera, Covalanes, El Pendo published 12/2023 Spain
All these are original caves in Cantabrica one can visit. The experience is so different to the copy caves like Chauvet, Lascaux, Henri Cosquer, Ekainberri and others
Tito Bustillo, El Pindal published 12/2023 Spain
This asturian cave with its horses painted in natural violet color is impressive and a rockfall has united two caves into one
Ekain, Ekainberri published 12/2023 Spain
The holy grail of horses is this cave and newly built replica called in spains basque country
Cave Painting Styles published 11/2020
We explain the different cave painting styles in southern France and northern Spain across the prehistoric periods from Aurignacian to Magdalenian with regard to animal depictions
First Moon Calendar published 01/2023
It is unbelievable but new studies indicate it is certainly the first calendar of mankind. Discovered markings in cave paintings prove this
European Rock Art
Val Camonica I published 10/2016 Italy
Situated on the south side of the Italian Alpes this is the largest rock art site in Europe with over 400,000 amazing engravings of animals, many human images and unique structures
Val Camonica II published 10/2016 Italy
Focus on Capo di Ponte area with Nasquane and Seradina-Bedolina parks and house like structures and fighting warrior scenes or "heroe" images explained
Vallee des Merveilles published 09/2015 France
This unique alpine rock art at an altitude of 2,500 meters is possibly the highest worldwide. The reddisch oxidized rock surfaces used for engravings make it a special ceremonial site
Coa Valley published 10/2014 Portugal
Amazing paleolithic rock art in northern Portugal. Coa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tanum Complex published 02/2024 Sweden
This is a wide area covered with engraved glacier bedrocks. The motives are rather different with many long boats
Rock Art Comparisons
Ibex / Ram Comparison published 11/2020
Interesting comparison of ibex images in European rock art at various sites
Please see comparisons of human depictions, horses and camels under Arabian Rock Art below
African Rock Art
Bushman Rock Art published 10/2016 South Africa & Namibia
Southern Africa belongs to the top three rock art areas worldwide and San bushman started it. Most interesting are the trance dances with elongated human figures and nearly all animals the African bush has to offer
Sahara Rock Art published 10/2021 Northern Africa
No surprise to find a wide range of motives here before desertification started to set in 3,000 years ago. Many different ethnic groups left their prehistoric engravings and paintings on rock surfaces
Sahara Rock Art II. published 11/2022 Northern Africa
A new look with further most interesting engravings and rock paintings showing how hunter gatherer clans became pastoral shepherds and farmers
Australian Rock Art
Australian Rock Art published 05/2020 Australia
This topic was long missing on our website. Australia truely is the most important destination for rock art enthusiasts. It has the most intriguing sites and interesting image galleries with amazing dream scenes
Asian Rock Art
Latmos Rock Art published 01/2022 Turkey
Here only human depictions were created and in a very different form
Iranian Rock Art published 07/2017 Iran
Interesting and little known rock art in the Khomein area. Ibex are dominating here and are compared with very similar engravings in other countries
Cholpon-Ata published 11/2016 Kyrgystan
Kyrgyzstan has only few rock art sites, this is an interesting Bronze Age site with over 2,000 images
Tamgaly published 11/2016 Kazakhstan
This is one of the most important rock art sites in Kazakhstan and a UNESCO site since 2004
Kazakhstan Rock Art Sites published 05/2020 Kazakhstan
We have investigated further important rock art sites such as: Kulja-basy, Arpa-uzen, Eshkiolmes and Bayan-zhurek with amazing details
Chuluut River updated 11/2016 Mongolia
This rare Mongolian rock art site was first reported in 1977 but after that little has been published on this site. See what we have
American Rock Art
Serra Capivara published 10/2019 Brazil
Amazing petroglyphs from Brazil which force us to re-write the history of immigration of the Americas. New dating results go back to over 30.000 years
Chiribiquete published 02/2022 Colombia
Just recently discovered area in the Colombian jungle in 2017 with over 75,000 amazing images at 60 sites created around 20,000 years ago
Pedra do Inga published 02/2024 Brazil
This rather small site is very interesting because its motives are unique and not found anywhere else
Nazca Lines published 02/2024 Peru
These geoglyphs are amazing and best seen from the air out of a small low flying turboprop aircraft. Why are mainly birds depicted? We do not know. And the many other kilometre long lines have no explanation
Arabian Rock Art
Introduction updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
Good introduction and overview of rock art in the Saudi Arabian desert with over 4,000 sites
Human Depictions updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
Interesting analysis of unique and life size human figures in Saudi Arabian rock art
Camel Depictions published 01/2015 Saudi Arabia
Summary and analysis of camel depictions in desert rock art
Horse Depictions published 10/2019 Saudi Arabia
Summary and analysis of horse depictions in pre-historic rock art
Bir Hima updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
Multiple rock art sites in the southern Saudi desert including so-called "Post Office Rock"
Jubbah updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
The most intriguing and oldest rock art site in Saudi Arabia with over 4,000 panels full of human and animal depictions about 10,000 years old. Human figures are "life size" and include rare dancing groups with up to twenty dancers with or without masks and multiple body decorations
Janin Cave updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
A rare cave with the oldest hand stencils on the Arabian Peninsula assumed 10,000 years old
Yatib updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
Rare palm tree engravings with camels, lions or hyenas. Small site but with over 1,000 motifs
Wadi Adu Ud updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
Panels are covered with over 4,000 animal motifs, which is typical for this unique rock art site
First Arab Scripts updated 04/2012 Saudi Arabia
Arab scripts found engraved on rocks all over the Arabian Peninsula analysed including: Aramaic, Dedanic, Hagaric, Hismaic, Lihyanite, Minaic, Musnad, Nabataean, Sabaic, Safaitic, Taymaic, Thamudic and Wusum