Ancient Human DNA Discovered in Paleolithic Cave Paintings
A recent study published on June 23 in Nature Communications indicates that ancient human DNA can endure for thousands of years within the pigments of Paleolithic cave art. Led by Alba Bossoms Mesa from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, researchers examined pigment samples from 24 rock art panels located in 11 caves across Spain and Portugal. This multinational team, part of the First-Art consortium, discovered human DNA in several samples, paving the way for identifying the creators of prehistoric rock art. The research focused on simple marks, hand stencils in Maltravieso Cave (Extremadura), and figurative paintings in the Cave of Altamira (Cantabria). Monica Green, an ancient DNA expert, noted that extracting molecular evidence from unconventional sources like cave floors is transforming our comprehension of human history, revealing that artworks act as biological archives with insights beyond their visual appeal.
Key facts
- Study published in Nature Communications on June 23.
- Led by Alba Bossoms Mesa from Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
- Analyzed pigment samples from 24 rock art panels in 11 caves in Spain and Portugal.
- Part of the First-Art consortium involving Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, Germany, and the UK.
- Human DNA found in some samples, proving it can survive in paint for millennia.
- Examined hand stencils in Maltravieso Cave and figurative paintings at Cave of Altamira.
- Methods could be applied to Cueva de las Manos in Argentina (13,000–9,500 years old).
- Monica Green commented that archaeogenetics is revolutionizing understanding of migrations and pandemics.
Entities
Artists
- Alba Bossoms Mesa
- Monica Green
- Genevieve von Petzinger
- Hipólito Collado Giraldo
- Francesco d'Errico
Institutions
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
- First-Art
- Nature Communications
- Hyperallergic
- Cueva de las Manos
- Maltravieso Cave
- Cave of Altamira
- UNESCO
- University of the Witwatersrand
- NewScientist
- National Geographic
- University of Bordeaux
Locations
- Spain
- Portugal
- Leipzig
- Germany
- Extremadura
- Cantabria
- Santa Cruz Province
- Argentina
- Italy
- China
- United Kingdom
- Escoural Cave
- Covarón Cave
- Ardales Cave
- Nerja Cave
- Longmont
- Colorado