A team of archaeologists has discovered in Marbella a stone block with engravings that could be more than 200,000 years old, making it one of the oldest findings of graphic representations in Spain and possibly in Europe.
The discovery occurred in Las Chapas (Marbella) and, according to experts, represents an essential proof of the presence of prehistoric settlers in the area. Preliminary analysis indicates that these engravings, inscribed on a gabbro block, would date from the Middle Paleolithic, a period still little studied in Spain and until now without records in the province of Málaga.
Descubren en Marbella grafismos de más de 200.000 años, un hallazgo único en España
The discovery was identified in 2022, but recent studies have confirmed its human origin, which could turn Marbella into a new epicenter for the study of the Paleolithic in the Iberian Peninsula.
Location and study techniques
The graphics were found in Coto Correa, an area protected for its archaeological importance. To determine their age, researchers are using quartz analysis in the sediments and advanced 3D digitization techniques, which allow for precise documentation of the marks on the stone.
These methods will help differentiate whether the incisions were made with tools or are the result of natural processes.
Descubren en Marbella grafismos de más de 200.000 años, un hallazgo único en España
Paleolithic context in Spain
This finding could add Marbella to the list of key Paleolithic sites in Spain, alongside sites such as:
Lower Paleolithic (1.2 million – 125,000 years): Atapuerca (Burgos) and Orce (Granada), with remains of Homo erectus and Homo antecessor.
Middle Paleolithic (125,000 – 40,000 years): Gibraltar and El Sidrón (Asturias), with evidence of Homo neanderthalensis.
Upper Paleolithic (40,000 – 10,000 years): Altamira and El Castillo Caves (Cantabria), with Homo sapiens as the protagonist.
The discovery in Marbella opens a new line of research on the cultural and symbolic evolution of the first inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula. As studies progress, it is expected to confirm whether these graphics correspond to one of the oldest artistic expressions in Europe.
