Prehistoric shocker: 200,000-year-old rock carvings found in Marbella. Some of the oldest known human-made carvings in Europe.
Credit: Ayuntamiento de Marbella
Marbella has just revealed an astonishing secret that may reshape our understanding of prehistoric Europe. Archaeologists working in the Las Chapas area have uncovered a stone at the protected Coto Correa site bearing carvings that could date back over 200,000 years. If confirmed, this would place them among the oldest human-made markings in Europe – surpassing Spain’s earliest known cave art by an extraordinary 100,000 years.
A Historic Discovery at Coto Correa
The revelation emerged during an archaeological survey of Coto Correa, a site recognised for its historical value since the 1950s. Previous excavations unearthed ancient stone tools linked to Marbella’s earliest human inhabitants, but this latest find takes the area’s legacy to a whole new level.
At the heart of the excitement is a chunk of gabbro – a coarse, dark rock – featuring a series of engraved lines. Archaeologists propose that these markings may represent a pioneering form of symbolic expression, potentially ranking among the oldest graphic representations ever documented on the Iberian Peninsula.
Challenging Conventional Timelines
If ongoing studies confirm their age, these engravings could overturn established ideas about when and how early humans first displayed artistic expression. Although Spain is home to other major sites of prehistoric art – most famously the painted caves in Cantabria – the sheer antiquity of these Marbella carvings sets them apart.
Not only might this discovery confirm that early humans (possibly including Neanderthals or their predecessors) were present in Marbella much earlier than previously believed, but it also raises fascinating questions about their mental, creative, and cultural capabilities.
High-Tech Verification
Determining the precise age of the carvings relies on a thorough geoarchaeological process. Researchers are analysing quartz in the surrounding sediments to establish a conclusive timeline, while cutting-edge 3D digital mapping is helping experts differentiate between natural weathering, tool marks, and intentional engravings.
This digital record will not only aid scholars in verifying the origin of the markings but will also serve as a long-term resource for museums -ensuring that experts, students, and curious visitors can explore this extraordinary find for years to come.
Investing in Marbella’s prehistoric heritage
Local authorities have allocated €8,000 to support this crucial research – a modest sum that could potentially redefine not just Marbella’s history, but our wider understanding of human evolution and creativity. Once the results are confirmed, the cultural department plans to share this scientific milestone through public events and exhibitions, ensuring everyone gets a glimpse into Marbella’s newly unveiled ancient past.
Could Marbella soon be celebrated for more than its luxury lifestyle? This potential breakthrough in Palaeolithic research may very well grant the town a new kind of prestige – one stretching back hundreds of thousands of years.
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Fun Fact
The term “Neanderthal” originates from the Neander Valley in Germany (spelt “Neander Thal” in Old German). It was there, in 1856, that the first recognised Neanderthal fossils were discovered, forever changing our understanding of early humans.
