New Cave Paintings Discovered in Alcoi Dating Back 7,000 Years

New discovery to enrich the historical heritage of Alicante province. Last March, new cave paintings were discovered in Alcoi, dating between 7,000 and 5,000 years old. This was announced by the Alcoi City Council, whose sources reveal that the discovery took place in the El Puig area, but they avoid specifying the exact location due to the risk of interference with ongoing studies in the area.

The discovery is credited to speleologist Iker Batán, whom the council thanks for his "professionalism, sensitivity, and rigour," as he promptly reported the find to the Alcoi Municipal Archaeological Museum.

The new paintings, found on rock shelters, belong to the Schematic Rock Art, with red-coloured representations made using the flat ink technique. The figures identified so far include a bar and a cross shape, simple schematizations but loaded with symbolic meaning for prehistoric human groups.

After the notification, museum technical staff travelled to the site to confirm the authenticity of the paintings. Subsequently, the Directorate General of Culture and Heritage was informed, initiating the corresponding protocol.

Additionally, a preliminary report has already been sent, and the paintings have been incorporated into the Inventory of Rock Art of the Generalitat Valenciana. Furthermore, the City Council is working to include the new record in the Structural Catalogue of Protected Assets of Alcoi.

The new site adds to the existing Cultural Interest Assets in the municipality, such as the well-known La Sarga site. "This discovery is yet another testament to the richness and uniqueness of our surroundings, and it marks another step in establishing Alcoy as a reference in historical and cultural heritage," stated the Councillor for Cultural Heritage, Ignacio Trelis.