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Britain's earliest prehistoric art found in beauty spot cave
Key takeaways
- The series of 10 red horizontal stripes was first found on the wall of a side chamber of Bacon Hole cave in Gower, Swansea, in 1912, before being dismissed years later as a natural phenomenon.
- But archaeologists have now used scientific advances to date the rock art to at least 17,100 years ago - also making it the oldest in north-western Europe.
- Archaeologist and prehistoric art specialist George Nash said the art could have been used as a "communication system" but that its meaning was something "way beyond our comprehension".
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Anna Lewisand Neil Prior,BBC Wales George Nash The rock art was first discovered in 1912 (left) before being dismissed years later as a natural phenomenon Painted rock art discovered in a Welsh cave has been confirmed to be the oldest in Britain.
The series of 10 red horizontal stripes was first found on the wall of a side chamber of Bacon Hole cave in Gower, Swansea, in 1912, before being dismissed years later as a natural phenomenon.
But archaeologists have now used scientific advances to date the rock art to at least 17,100 years ago - also making it the oldest in north-western Europe.
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