In 1875, in the Altamira Cave in Spain, De Sotura discovered numerous flint tools, animal bones from the Paleolithic era, and black paintings on the cave walls.
Four years later, De Sotura returned to Altamira with hopes of uncovering more artifacts, this time bringing along his 5-year-old daughter. While he was excavating in the Altamira Cave, his daughter was playing by herself when she suddenly exclaimed, “Bison! Bison!” What she discovered was the now-famous painting in the Altamira Cave. On the ceiling and walls of the cave, various animals such as wild boars, bison, deer, and wild horses were depicted in different poses. This painting has been considered a significant starting point for modern art.
The Altamira Cave is vast, measuring 400 meters in length. It is known that this cave was formed by a flowing river that eroded the rock over many years. The famous painting is located on the left side of the cave, measuring 11 meters long and about 5 meters wide, depicting a total of over 170 animal figures in various unique styles. The lines of the painting are very vivid, with a logical composition and beautiful colors. The talented artist of that time skillfully utilized the irregular surface of the rock to express the muscular and skeletal changes of the animals. The masterful technique of the painting leaves viewers in awe.
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| The talented artist skillfully utilized the irregular surface of the rock to express the muscular and skeletal changes of the animals (Image: polibea) |
In 1880, De Sotura published the Altamira paintings in his book “A Brief Introduction to Prehistoric Artifacts in Santander Province“. He believed that the painting dated back to the Paleolithic era. The discovery and interpretation of the painting by Sotura sparked a heated debate within the academic community. His views were supported by French professor Gogriel de Mortilet and contemporary paleobiologist Madrit Werlannova. However, most scientists in the academic community opposed Sotura’s interpretation, arguing that prehistoric people could not have achieved such a high level of artistic expression.
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| A deer (Image: rsta.pucmm) |
Some even criticized Sotura as a fraud and suspected that the paintings were forgeries. Thus, although the painting in Altamira triggered a wave of debate upon its publication, the fervor soon died down. By 1888, when Sotura passed away, he still harbored regrets that his monumental discovery had not been recognized by humanity.
Modern archaeological research has shown that many cave sites where prehistoric humans once resided contain remnants of primitive paintings. The content of these paintings primarily depicts animals such as wild horses, bison, deer, lions, bears, and aurochs. Therefore, some believe that cave art is a form of artistic representation of animals. Prehistoric people may have depicted these animals because they perceived them to play a significant role in their lives. Some animals provided a food source for survival, such as wild horses and bison, while others posed serious threats to their environment, like lions, bears, and tigers, and some provided materials for essential everyday tools, such as ivory and deer antlers.
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| The painting “Wounded Bison” (Image: kaliman) |
If we examine the artistic techniques, the artistic level of prehistoric people was still quite low. Most paintings featured crude outlines, inappropriate colors, and blurred details. Even cave art from thousands of years ago displayed a very clumsy artistic level that cannot be compared to the paintings in Altamira Cave. Consequently, Western scholars have always believed that the paintings in Altamira Cave are forgeries created by humanity in recent centuries.
It can be said that the painting “Wounded Bison” located on the cave ceiling is the most accomplished work among the paintings in Altamira. This bison appears fierce; after being wounded, its body curls into a mass, its four legs twitching, its horns curving, tail raised, and ears erect. The expression of the bison is full of life and artistic merit. The state of aggression before its death has been portrayed with such finesse that it leaves contemporary viewers in awe of the high artistic skill of prehistoric artists.
In Altamira Cave, in addition to realistic depictions, there are many abstract drawings as well. Here, there are sketches made with crude black lines, some are graphics with soft yet intense colors, and certain areas may dazzle the viewer’s eyes. It is speculated that these drawings express humanity’s desire to conquer wild beasts. They may also be related to the religious beliefs surrounding hunting among prehistoric people.
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Visitors enjoying the art of the paintings (Image: centros3) |
However, what remains puzzling is how the prehistoric residents of Altamira Cave managed to create such a magnificent artistic achievement. To this day, no satisfactory answer has been found. Notably, Altamira Cave limits daily visitors to only 35, and reservations must be made in advance. We believe that with the advancement of science and new archaeological discoveries, the mystery of the paintings in Altamira Cave will eventually be unveiled.
Some images from Altamira Cave
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