The city of Marbella (Málaga, Spain) has witnessed an archaeological discovery that could rewrite the history of prehistoric art on the Iberian Peninsula. In the Coto Correa site, located in Las Chapas, a team of experts has identified a stone block with engravings that could be over 200,000 years old. This finding, made as part of an archaeological intervention promoted by the Department of Culture, Education, and Historical Heritage, adds to a series of previous discoveries that confirm the archaeological richness of the area.
Coto Correa is a site of great interest to the scientific community, as it contains remains of the earliest populations that inhabited the region. This site has had archaeological protection since the 1950s, when lithic tools dated to the Lower Paleolithic were accidentally discovered. The recent excavation in the area has provided greater insight into the geological evolution of the terrain and has brought to light a set of knapped stone tools in one of its deepest layers.
Among the most significant findings of this archaeological intervention is a gabbro block with linear engravings, making it an exceptional piece within prehistoric studies. This discovery is doubly relevant: first, it confirms the presence of humans in Marbella during the Early Middle Paleolithic, a period scarcely documented in Spain and unprecedented in the province of Málaga.
Second, the stone with human-made graphic representations could predate the oldest known cave art by more than 100,000 years, making it one of the earliest known examples of human symbolic expression.
To verify the age of the find, the Department of Culture has launched an in-depth study of the engraved block. The analyses will include the application of advanced absolute dating techniques, such as quartz studies in various sediment samples, which will allow for a precise chronology of the archaeological context. Additionally, a 3D digital documentation of the block will be carried out, generating a high-resolution virtual representation that will facilitate a detailed study of the surface and help distinguish between tool marks and intentional engravings.
The use of these technological tools will not only ensure the preservation of the discovery but will also contribute to its scientific dissemination, facilitating analysis by specialists and its exhibition in future publications and exhibitions.
The funding for this research phase amounts to 8,000 euros and represents a strong commitment by the Marbella City Council to the advancement of archaeology and historical heritage. If the preliminary dating is confirmed, this discovery would position Marbella as a key site in Paleolithic studies and open new avenues of research into the cognitive and symbolic capabilities of prehistoric human populations in the region.
Once the commissioned studies are completed, the Department of Culture plans to organize various activities to share the discovery with both the scientific community and the general public. These initiatives will include conferences, exhibitions, and specialized publications that will allow for a deeper understanding of the significance and implications of this extraordinary discovery.
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