IHA PhotoRoughly 100 prehistoric paintings made with red pigment were found inside a cave system in eastern Turkeys Tohma Canyon region.Archaeologists just found what could be one of the most extensive cave painting discoveries ever made in Anatolia, the storied region of Turkey that played a pivotal role in humankinds prehistoric past.The three-cave system found by researchers in Tohma Canyon is covered in red paintings of figures, both human and animal in appearance. These symbolic paintings could shed light on the lifestyles and beliefs of Neolithic humans in whats now eastern Turkey.The Neolithic Cave Paintings Of Animal And Human Figures Found In Eastern TurkeyThe discovery was made by a team of researchers led by Levent skenderolu of nn University. The team had been doing fieldwork in the area with the goal of documenting the region, which had not been thoroughly examined in the past.IHA PhotoThe researchers tentatively dated the cave art to the Neolithic period.Tohma Canyon lies in the eastern Turkish district of Malatya. River valleys and steep rock canyons have long characterized the region and shaped the lives of the people that have settled there.Along the walls of the newly-uncovered three-cave system, the team found nearly 100 humanoid and animal-like figures, as well as geometric lines and shapes, all of them created with a red ochre paint.skenderolu said that the paintings were likely done with fingers, and that the styles and paints in question suggest that these works were created over the course of hundreds, if not thousands, of years, according to a report from Trkiye Today.Upon closer inspection, we see stylistic changes in places, and differences in paint and pigment texture indicating older and newer periods. This suggests that the area may have been used for thousands of years. This could be a dreamlike place where people repeatedly visited in different periods, attributing symbolic meaning to it, skenderolu said in a statement from nn University.IHA PhotoThe paintings featured geometric shapes alongside the many humanoid and animal-like figures.With all that in mind, its difficult for the team to date the cave art to a specific period, but theyve tentatively settled on the Neolithic era as their estimate. While the wider region has produced evidence of human life dating back to the Paleolithic period of hunter-gatherers, initial assessments of the paint point to the slightly more recent Neolithic age. skenderolu said that definitive results for dating the cave art will be possible after carbon-14 and Uranium-Thorium (U-Th) analyses are complete.In addition to the geometric shapes and natural figures, the team found handprints on the wall, a discovery that may be the most interesting of all. This is because the handprints could provide insight into the intent behind these dozens of cave paintings.We interpreted them as a form of resistance against mortality. Its possible that humans wanted to leave a trace of themselves by marking their hands there, skenderolu said.However, theres likely even more to the story behind this stunning find.What This Discovery Could Reveal About Life In Prehistoric AnatoliaNaturally, the paintings offer a unique window into the lives of the people who made them. For instance, the paintings appear to depict both wild and domestic animals together among the human figures, suggestive of the transition to settled, agricultural life during the Neolithic era.These paintings, when compared with those found elsewhere, could also prove crucial to understanding how life in prehistoric Anatolian was different from life in prehistoric Europe. For one, prehistoric cave paintings found in Europe tend to include more naturalistic or realistic figures, while the recent find in Anatolia involves more symbolic representations.IHA PhotoResearchers described this find as one of the most densely-painted caves ever discovered in Anatolia.The team has also compared this recent discovery to other painted caves and rock art in Anatolia itself, such as the examples found in Beldibi, Latmos, and the Dou Sandal Cave in Mersin. While these finds are also valuable, skenderolu said that the number of figures found at Tohma Canyon and their use of symbolism makes this find one of the most important cave art discoveries ever made in Anatolia.During their survey, archaeologists also found remnants of damage caused by people searching the caves for treasure. skenderolu thus urged that protective measures should be taken to preserve the art.Although the find is important for understanding Anatolias Neolithic history, skenderolu emphasized that its also relevant for piecing together the early history of humankind the world over.If the necessary protection measures are taken and the necessary infrastructure for visitors is created, this place can become an important tourism destination for both our region and Turkey. This area does not belong only to us; it is a common cultural heritage of all humanity, skenderolu said. Therefore, its preservation and transmission to future generations are of great importance.After reading about the prehistoric paintings found inside a cave in Turkey, discover the largest-known cave art ever uncovered in North America. Then, learn about Turkeys ancient underground city of Derinkuyu.The post Archaeologists In Turkey Just Uncovered A Cave Filled With More Than 100 Prehistoric Paintings appeared first on All That's Interesting.