The cave art of the Mediterranean (1998)

Unesco


These sites in the Mediterranean Arc of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain), and their cave art, which dates from the end of the pre-historic period, constitute an exceptional set of works and provide a fascinating insight into how people lived during what was a critical phase of human development. The lively, graphic representations are unique not only on account of their style, buy also because of the themes that they portray. The set of cave paintings from the end of the pre-historic period located in the Spain’s eastern Mediterranean arc forms the largest group of cave art locations in the whole of Europe, and offers an exceptional perspective of the live of man in an essential period of human cultural evolution.

In total 16 of Lleida’s archaeological sites have been recognised by UNESCO as depositories of cave paintings of great value. They are important because they represent both one of the first artistic manifestations of the primitive Mediterranean civilisation and because they constitute an embryonic form of later plastic art forms.
This distinction has been granted to remains found in Western Catalonia (Spain) that include La Roca dels Moros del Cogul, one of the best conserved pieces of cave art, which provides an excellent example of the art that developed in this territory during the Palaeolithic period. It also includes the Cova de Cogulló, at Vilanova de Meià; the Cova dels Vilasos, at Os de Balaguer, and the cave art of the Vall de la Coma and the Balma dels Punts, both at L'Albi. Elements with very unique characteristics can also be seen at the Roc del Rumbau at Peramola or in the Abrics of La Granja d'Escarp, which were found as a result of mining prospecting. Other sites include the Abric de la Vall d'Ingla, at Bellver de Cerdanya; the Roques Guàrdies, at Les Borges Blanques; the Aparets, at Alòs de Balaguer; the Cova d'Antona, at Artesa de Segre; the Balma del Pantà and Cova del Tabac, at Camarasa; the Balma de les Ovelles, at Tremp, and the cave paintings of Alfés. All of these sites are top level, cultural heritage sites on a world scale that can be found in the comarques (local districts) of Lleida (Spain).

 

Information provided by:

Departament de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya
 

 

Balma de les Ovelles

Contact information:

 

 

Balma de les Ovelles

Departament de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya - Serveis Territorials de Lleida - Rambla d''Aragó, 8
25002, Lleida
Web: http://cultura.gencat.cat/
973279200

 

Share:

 

Comparteix a facebook
Comparteix a Twitter
Compartir a Whatsapp
Envia a un amic
Imprimir

 

 

 



  • Unesco

     

    Cavity formed in the calcareous Mesozoic rock strata of the Serra de Sant Gervàs and located in the municipal district of Tremp (Pallars Jussà -Spain).
     
    The paintings are in a large cave (balma) that was formed as a result of differential erosion of calcareous strata and marls. The surface is 80 m long, 20 m wide and 30 m high. A small red anthropomorphic figure has been identified whose arms are crossed and legs are open. The trunk is just a straight line that is slightly thicker at the point corresponding to the head. It is not possible to distinguish hands or feet at the extremities. The relationship between the trunk and legs is clearly disproportionate. On the left forearm it is possible to distinguish three crossing lines in the form of an asterisk and there is a formless object in the figure’s right hand. The set of paintings are completed with another series of crossing lines to the left and an arrow pointing towards the south-west, to the right. There are another two lines beneath the figure.