FIRST PALEOLITHIC ROCK ART IN GERMANY: ENGRAVINGS ON HUNSRUCK SLATE.

Paleolithic slate engravings,

Hunsruck, Germany.

Public domain.

A recent paper on thefreelibrary.com reported the discovery of the first large-scale paleolithic art in Germany. Originally discovered in 2010, the engravings were found on a rock face in the mountainous Hunsruck area.

The engraving shows a group of three horses and one other unidentified animal deeply carved into the surface of a large slate boulder.

Close-up of Paleolithic slate

engravings, Hunsruck,

Germany. Public domain.

A number of experts, including Paul Bahn in 2013, have authenticated the find and attribute it to the paleolithic period. Other examples of open-air paleolithic art have also been attributed in France and Spain, but this is Germany's lone example so far.

Drawing of the Paleolithic slate

engravings, Hunsruck,

Germany. Public domain.

This boulder is located in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, near the village of Gondershausen. The slate deposits in this area have long been mined and are famous for fossils recovered. Analysis of the images has discovered that at least three periods of engraving were undertaken, with the deep lines of the animal engravings coming first. Lighter lines, added later, are hard to decipher with portions obscured by lichen growth, and weathering.

Hopefully other examples of large-scale paleolithic art will be discovered there to add to our knowledge of the people of that time and place.

NOTE: Images in this posting were retrieved from the internet in a search for public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public domain, I apologize, and will happily provide the picture credits if the owner will contact me with them. For further information on these reports you should read the originals at the sites listed below.

REFERENCE:

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/First+Palaeolithic+rock+art+in+Germany%3A+engravings+on+Hunsruck+slate.-a0446932799