In the rolling green hills of Cantabria, just two kilometers from the medieval village of Santillana del Mar, lies what many scholars consider the single most important site of prehistoric art in the world. The Cave of Altamira contains polychrome paintings of bison, horses, deer, and human hands created during the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 14,000 to 36,000 years ago. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, Altamira forever changed our understanding of early human creativity and intelligence.
Discovery and Initial Controversy
The cave was first discovered in 1868 by a local hunter named Modesto Cubillas, who noticed a narrow opening while searching for his dog in the hillside. However, it was not until 1879 that the paintings were brought to public attention by amateur archaeologist Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola and his eight-year-old daughter Maria.
According to the well-known account, while Sautuola was examining the cave floor for artifacts, young Maria looked up at the low ceiling and exclaimed at the vivid images of bison painted across the rock. Sautuola quickly recognized the significance of the discovery and published his findings in 1880, arguing that the paintings were the work of prehistoric humans.
His claims were met with fierce skepticism from the scientific establishment. Leading French prehistorians accused Sautuola of forgery, suggesting the paintings were too sophisticated to have been created by "primitive" humans. It was only after similar cave paintings were discovered at several other sites in France in the early 1900s that Sautuola's conclusions were vindicated. Tragically, he died in 1888 without seeing his reputation restored. In 1902, prominent archaeologist Emile Cartailhac published a famous apology acknowledging his error, and the art of Altamira was accepted as genuine.
The Polychrome Ceiling
The most celebrated section of the cave is the Great Hall, sometimes called the "Polychrome Ceiling." This relatively low chamber, measuring approximately 18 meters long and 9 meters wide, features dozens of painted and engraved figures across its undulating rock ceiling.
The artists took advantage of the natural contours of the rock to give their images a three-dimensional quality that is remarkable even by modern standards. Bulges in the stone were used to represent the muscular bulk of bison, while cracks and ridges defined the outlines of legs and horns. The paintings employ multiple pigments, including red and yellow ochre, manganese black, and charcoal, blended and layered with a sophistication that stunned 19th-century observers.
The most prominent figures are a group of approximately 20 polychrome bison, depicted in various poses: standing, lying down, and curled up. Interspersed among them are images of horses, a large deer (possibly a hind), a wild boar, and several abstract symbols whose meaning remains a subject of ongoing research.
The Neocave: A Faithful Replica
Due to the fragility of the original paintings, the Cave of Altamira was closed to the general public in 1977 after studies showed that the breath and body heat of thousands of daily visitors were causing visible deterioration of the art. After years of conservation work, limited visits were briefly reinstated, but the cave remains largely closed to protect the paintings for future generations.
In 2001, the Museum of Altamira opened adjacent to the cave, featuring the "Neocave," an exact replica of the Great Hall created using meticulous laser scanning and hand-painting techniques. The Neocave faithfully reproduces every contour, crack, and color of the original ceiling, allowing visitors to experience the wonder of the polychrome art without endangering the irreplaceable originals.
The museum also houses extensive exhibits on Paleolithic life in northern Spain, including tools, ornaments, and interactive displays that help visitors understand the world in which the Altamira artists lived.
Understanding the Art: Techniques and Meaning
The artists of Altamira employed a range of techniques that reveal a high degree of skill and planning. Pigments were ground and mixed with animal fat or water to create paints that were applied with fingers, animal-hair brushes, and hollow bones used as airbrush-like spraying tools. Engraving with sharp stone tools added detail and texture to the painted images.
Scholars continue to debate the purpose of the art. Theories range from shamanistic rituals and hunting magic to seasonal calendars and simple expressions of aesthetic pleasure. What is clear is that the Altamira paintings represent a landmark in the development of human cognition and symbolic thought, demonstrating that our ancestors possessed artistic abilities far more advanced than was once believed.
Practical Information for Visitors
Northern Spain's Cave Art Trail
While Altamira is the most famous example, the region of Cantabria and neighboring Asturias contain numerous caves with significant prehistoric art. Together with Altamira, 17 caves in northern Spain were jointly inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 under the title "Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain."
Notable related sites include the Cave of El Castillo (which may contain the oldest known cave art in Europe, dated to over 40,000 years ago), the Cave of Tito Bustillo in Asturias, and the Cave of La Garma with its exceptionally preserved Paleolithic living floor. Visiting several of these sites provides a comprehensive picture of artistic development during the Ice Age.