Between 16,500 and 14,000 years ago, artists—possibly hunters—skillfully depicted bison, deer, and other animals in red and black paint on the ceiling of Altamira Cave in northeastern Spain. These early painters incorporated the cave’s natural contours into their engravings and artwork, creating a remarkable three-dimensional effect.

The act of painting deep within Altamira and other caves suggests the invention of a portable lamp fueled by fat or oil, allowing artists to illuminate the recesses as they worked.

Archaeological Findings and Human Occupation

Excavations of the cave floor have uncovered rich Upper Solutrean (18,500 years ago) and Lower Magdalenian (16,500–14,000 years ago) artifact deposits, both part of the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age).

Between these two periods, the cave was uninhabited by humans, serving only as a shelter for wild animals. When occupied, its location provided access to abundant wildlife in the surrounding valleys, while its proximity to the coast allowed for a supplementary marine diet.

Around 13,000 years ago, a rockfall sealed the cave entrance, preserving its contents for millennia. The cave was eventually rediscovered when a falling tree disturbed the collapsed rocks, revealing its hidden artwork.

The Mastery of Altamira’s Artists

Human occupation was limited to the cave entrance, but paintings extend throughout its entire length. The artists used charcoal, ochre, and hematite, often scratching or diluting the pigments to create variations in intensity, producing a chiaroscuro effect.

The Polychrome Ceiling is the cave’s most impressive feature, depicting a herd of bison in different poses, along with two horses, a large doe, and possibly a wild boar. This art, dating to the Magdalenian period, includes both animal subjects and abstract shapes.

Solutrean-era artwork in the cave features horses, goats, and handprints—created by placing a hand against the wall and blowing pigment over it, leaving a negative impression of the palm.

Although numerous caves in northern Spain contain Paleolithic art, none rival Altamira in artistic sophistication or density of imagery.

The artistic achievements of the Middle Magdalenian period reach their peak around 12,000 BCE at Altamira, where astonishingly lifelike depictions of bison, horses, deer, and other animals cover the low cave ceilings, showcasing a remarkable level of realism and artistic skill.

The final series of paintings at the Altamira cave site was created around 9500 BCE, marking the last phase of its prehistoric artistic tradition.

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.