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5 of the World’s Most Fascinating Cave Paintings

The oldest known cave art in the world dates back tens of thousands of years, sharing a glimpse of a prehistoric world as our ancestors saw it.

By Sara Novak
Dec 16, 2022 4:00 PM
Cueva de las Manos, Argentina
(Credit: R.M. Nunes/Shutterstock)

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Cave paintings can tell us a lot about the people who painted them. For starters, they indicate that a particular culture made time for art. They also tell us that these people valued art as well as the particular objects, scenes or concepts depicted within their works.

Ultimately, cave art isn’t just about marks on rock, but it offers a freeze frame from the prehistoric world that these ancient humans inhabited. Here are some of the most memorable finds.

1. Leang Tedongnge Cave Art

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