Britain's earliest prehistoric art found in beauty spot cave
Summary
Scientists have confirmed that red rock art found in Bacon Hole cave in Gower, Wales, is the oldest prehistoric art in Britain, dating back at least 17,100 years. The art, consisting of 10 red horizontal stripes, was first discovered in 1912 but only recently recognized as human-made using new dating technology.Key Facts
- The rock art is made up of 10 red horizontal stripes on a cave wall.
- It was first found in 1912 but was thought to be natural markings for many years.
- New scientific tests called uranium-thorium dating confirmed the art is at least 17,100 years old.
- This makes it the oldest rock art in Britain and north-western Europe.
- The cave is in the Gower Peninsula, overlooking the Bristol Channel.
- The area was once a fertile land attracting animals like mammoths and reindeer, drawing early hunter-gatherers.
- Archaeologists believe the stripes might have been a form of communication or tally marks.
- The cave is managed by the National Trust Cymru but is not yet a protected scheduled monument.
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