Rock Art of Portugal

[surface is covered in indeterminate lines, area around carved animal is shaded for visibility]

Portugal These figures may not look controversial, but Côa valley in Portugal and the rock art found within it is stirring up a hornet's nest when it comes to dating. For years dating of rock art has been divided into two schools, stylistic dating (where the artwork is attributed to a particular time period based on it's similarity in style or composition to other known style 'periods') and scientific dating (carbon dating if possible or dating based on formation of rock and layer created upon). Côa valley has been stylistically dated at Neolithic period between 10,000 and 30,000 years old but this age is disputed by some scientists. Here you can read how the depiction of Ibex in some of the art is used as a theoretical basis of proving it's stylistic date, along with other factors.

Hopefully the dating can be determined and we can learn more about the people behind the art in Portugal, in the meantime it's graceful scenes of the hunt and wildlife can be enjoyed regardless! What makes the rock art here unique is that unlike European prehistoric art of this time period (such as Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave in France) is it was not created within natural sanctuaries and caves, but in 'open air'. This alone is changing what we know of this early art form and why they created it.

Next we travel to Spain..