For the first time, scientists have recovered ancient DNA left behind on cave walls and rock art, opening a new way to study the people who made prehistoric art thousands of years ago

In an extraordinary breakthrough, researchers have isolated ancient human DNA from prehistoric cave paintings found in Spain and Portugal. Published in Nature Communications, this pioneering work opens doors to identifying the creators of these works, including their gender and lineage. The DNA seems to have seeped through bodily fluids, giving us a fascinating link to the artists who crafted these enduring relics thousands of years ago.

Jul 6, 2026 - 18:30
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For the first time, scientists have recovered ancient DNA left behind on cave walls and rock art, opening a new way to study the people who made prehistoric art thousands of years ago
In an extraordinary breakthrough, researchers have isolated ancient human DNA from prehistoric cave paintings found in Spain and Portugal. Published in Nature Communications, this pioneering work opens doors to identifying the creators of these works, including their gender and lineage. The DNA seems to have seeped through bodily fluids, giving us a fascinating link to the artists who crafted these enduring relics thousands of years ago.

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