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Study that identified human genetic traces preserved for thousands of years on walls with rock art in Europe
An unprecedented discovery has caught the attention of world archaeology. For the first time, scientists have managed to extract ancient human DNA directly from a rock painting, showing that genetic traces can remain preserved on cave walls for thousands of years.
The study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications and conducted by researchers from the international project First Art, with participation from institutions in Portugal, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
According to the authors, the discovery opens up a new possibility to better understand who the prehistoric populations were that left marks on rocks, caves, and natural walls.
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Learn about the discovery of ancient DNA in rock painting
The research analyzed samples collected in caves in Spain and Portugal. Among the sites studied are the Gruta do Escoural in Portuguese territory and the Caverna de Covarón in northern Spain.
In total, the team gathered more than 120 samples. Some were taken directly from 24 rock paintings. Others came from areas close to the drawings and from walls without any visible pigment.
Despite the large volume of material analyzed, positive results were rare. Only five samples showed authentic ancient human mitochondrial DNA.
One of them was found directly on a rock painting. Two were next to the artworks. The other two came from common cave walls, without drawings.
Why the result surprised the researchers
The most impressive point is that two of the five samples contained only human genetic material, without mixing with animal DNA.
This suggests that the DNA may have been deposited by direct contact between humans and the stone surface.
In the case of the rock painting, researchers consider several possibilities. The material may have come from saliva used during the artistic process, the painter’s sweat, or other bodily fluids.
Even so, it is not possible to state that the DNA belongs to the painting’s author. Therefore, the discovery should be seen as important evidence, but not as a direct identification of the artists.
What DNA Revealed About Prehistoric Humans
The analysis confirmed that the remains belonged to modern Homo sapiens. Additionally, it indicated a connection with the so-called western hunter-gatherers, a prehistoric group already associated with the analyzed sites.
Among the five human samples, three were attributed to women. One was attributed to a man. However, the sample taken directly from the rock art did not have its sex confirmed.
Although the data is still limited, the result shows that cave walls can hold much more than ancient images.
They can also preserve biological signs left by people who lived thousands of years ago.
How the Discovery Can Transform Archaeology
For decades, researchers have tried to recover DNA from rock paintings. However, this task has always been considered extremely difficult.
The genetic material is fragile, appears in very small quantities, and can be contaminated by humans, animals, water, or later sediments.
Even so, the new article shows that this quest is not impossible. On the contrary, it indicates that caves can become a new source of information about prehistoric human activities.
Moreover, the fact that DNA was also found on walls without paintings further amplifies the impact of the research.
This means that, in the future, scientists will be able to study ancient human presence even in caves without visible rock art.
Thus, the discovery represents an important advancement for paleogenetics and archaeology. From it, it will be possible to investigate in more detail who these groups were, how they occupied spaces, and what traces they left in the caves.
Therefore, although it is not yet possible to directly link the DNA to the creators of the paintings, the study opens a new path. Cave walls can reveal not only art but also fragments of the biological history of those who lived in that world.
