A possible paleolithic map in Southern Andalusia: A proposed meaning for enigmatic Panel 14 of Cueva de las Estrellas

Abstract

This paper proposes a possible explanation for the meaning of the complex, large, tree-form lines of paired painted dots which form the central panel of the cave paintings in Cueva de las Estrellas, currently undeciphered. In Author´s opinion, this painting could represent a map of the northern part of Gibraltar´s strait -or south part of Cadiz province in southern Andalusia- whose dot lines would connect Cueva de las Estrellas with main key points in the region at prehistoric times. To back this theory, the reasons and considerations behind the proposal are explained step by step, and the actual painting is compared -intuitively and mathematically -with current maps. Should this thesis become true, we could be in front of one of the oldest, largest and more accurate maps of Europe, and open the door to wonder if prehistoric men also had functional motivations to create cave paintings. The importance of this map - compared with other prehistoric maps identified- is based on the unique combination of Span covered (60 x 50 km.), Size (120 x 95 cm.), Specific identified localization, Similarities among painting and real maps (RMSE of 5%), Technique (painting) and Age (Paleolithic). Since the cave and the paintings have been largely and deeply studied from the traditional arquelogical point of view (technique, size, age) and the paintings are dated around Paleolithic (Collado et al., 2019: 31 y 33; Fernández-Sánchez et al., 2019: 149), this paper is focused on the interpretation of the meaning of the painting and is currently just a bold -but sound- idea from an amateur, which maybe should be further developed by a team of professional scientists.