First Discovery of Ancient Human DNA in Cave Paintings: A Breakthrough in Archaeology

A recent study conducted in caves across Spain and Portugal reveals that ancient human DNA can persist for millennia on cave walls and within rock art. This revolutionary finding opens new avenues for understanding prehistoric humans and poses intriguing questions regarding the possibility of Neanderthals creating cave paintings.

According to Genevieve von Petzinger of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, “It’s the beginning of a new era. We may potentially identify the individual who created the art, which is extraordinary.”

From 2022 to 2025, the First Art Project focused on dating the oldest cave paintings, sampling 11 caves in Spain and Portugal. These caves featured the earliest forms of art, including geometric shapes, dots, and hand stencils made with red ochre paint. Researchers extracted small shavings of paint and layers of calcite from cave walls.

Since cave art is often created through techniques such as mouth-blown paint or direct hand application, the research team sought to determine whether the artist’s DNA was preserved. Although previous research identified ancient human DNA in cave floor sediments, this study marks the first instance of such DNA being found on cave walls.

The breakthrough occurred with the discovery of ancient human DNA in red markings resembling semicolons in Escur Cave, Portugal. “It was a pleasant surprise,” notes Alba Bossams Mesa from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. However, she cautions, “We can’t definitively say the DNA belongs to the person who created the art; it could derive from a later visitor.”

This remarkable finding lays the groundwork for potentially identifying the very individuals behind these ancient artworks. Hipolito Collado Giraldo, an archaeologist with the Extremadura government in Spain, states, “It transforms cave walls into pages of a book waiting to be filled by new discoveries.”

Another astonishing find was the presence of ancient human DNA in samples taken from an area of the cave wall designated as a control site, which showed no visible artifacts. This DNA likely originated from prehistoric visitors who touched the walls. “We were taken aback,” remarks Corrado Giraldo, confirming that even without cave paintings or artifacts, the walls can offer significant insights into the ancient humans who frequented these sites.

The researchers concluded that the DNA on the walls of Escoral Cave likely resulted from direct contact with ancient humans rather than sediment. In sediment samples, DNA from various animals can mix with human remains. Conversely, the genetic material on the walls of Escoral Cave was exclusively human.

The findings not only revealed the presence of DNA but also provided insights into the demographics of ancient humans, as three samples were primarily female and one primarily male. This genetic profile closely aligns with a group identified as Western hunter-gatherers who existed between 5,200 and 17,000 years ago.

Although the DNA recovered was insufficient for precise dating, Escoral Cave’s known timeline indicates that it was sealed off between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago, suggesting the DNA is older.

This pioneering research is just the start. Recently, First Art researchers, including von Petzinger and Corrado Giraldo, conducted further sampling in other Spanish caves, including the Nerja and Aldales caves, where artwork attributed to Neanderthals exists, albeit contentiously. “One of the key questions I’d love to answer is whether Neanderthals were capable of creating art,” asserts Bossams-Mesa.

Experts like Francesco d’Errico from the University of Bordeaux emphasize that DNA from cave walls could reveal a wealth of information regarding ancient humans and their artistry. “Was the artist male, female, or both? What if there are drawings from the same panel created by different artists? Will Neanderthal DNA be discovered in ancient Iberian paintings? The potential for discovery is immense.”

However, it’s worth noting that ancient DNA was found in only one of the 24 rock art panels sampled, indicating that such preservation may be rare. “Currently, the success rate for DNA extraction is quite low,” Bossams-Mesa states, yet optimism grows as researchers refine their techniques.

Corrado Giraldo expresses enthusiasm about uncovering valuable information without the need for destructive excavations. “Excavation inevitably removes parts of the archaeological record,” he points out. “This new development offers a means to unveil and reconstruct entirely new narratives without excavation, allowing us to gain richer insights into our ancestors’ lives and societies.”