CAVE PAINTINGS

The cave paintings are prehistoric drawings and sketches in some rocks and caves. The term "rock 'comes from the Latin rupestris, and that of rupes (rock), but is synonymous with original. So in a strict sense, would refer to rock any human activity on walls of caves, covachas, rock shelters, and even cliffs and ravines, and so on. From this aspect, it is virtually impossible to isolate the manifestations of other pictorial representations of prehistoric art as prints, sculptures and petroglyphs engraved on stone by percussion or erosion. To be protected from erosion by the nature of the medium, the paintings have withstood the passing of the centuries. This is one of the oldest art forms for which a record, because at least there is evidence dating back to 40,000 years old, ie during the last glaciation. Moreover, although the rock painting is essentially a primitive spiritual expression, it can be located in almost all periods of human history and on every continent except Antarctica. The oldest manifestations and are most important in Spain and France, corresponding to the transition period from the Palaeolithic to the Neolithic. The first of the periods referred to are the extraordinary cave paintings of Altamira, in Santillana del Mar, Cantabria (Spain).