The Discovery of the Altamira Cave Paintings (1879)

The Altamira cave paintings, recognized as one of the great masterpieces of prehistoric art, depict large animals—primarily bison—painted on the ceiling near the entrance. In the deeper sections of the cave, additional animal figures and abstract symbols, outlined in black and red pigments, accompany numerous engravings, including an exceptionally fine depiction of a group of hinds.

These Paleolithic cave paintings were discovered in 1879 by Don Marcelino de Sautuola, a Spanish amateur archaeologist, at Altamira, near Santillana del Mar in the province of Santander, northeast Spain. Initially met with skepticism, the authenticity of the Altamira paintings was later confirmed, revolutionizing the understanding of prehistoric art and providing crucial insight into the artistic and symbolic expressions of early humans.