Levantine Rock Art

Levantine rock art is an expression of the culture and way of thinking of the hunters and wild fruit gatherers who lived in these mountains during the Post-Palaeolithic period until the advent of agriculture and animal domestication in the Neolithic.
It is usually found in the open air, in shallow rock shelters where sunlight penetrates easily. These artistic manifestations extend across the eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula, between the inland mountain ranges of Almería, Cuenca and Aragón and the Mediterranean Sea.
The subject matter is varied, with a focus on animals such as deer and the human figure, generally depicted in a dynamic manner. The depictions are fairly naturalistic, though with a certain degree of stylisation, and are sometimes grouped together to create narrative scenes of hunting, rituals, combat, gathering, etc.
Chimiachas
This rock shelter is situated on the right-hand side of the Chimiachas ravine, which can be reached on foot from the small village of San Pelegrín and Alquézar.
The small cave (18 x 5 m), facing south-east, contains a single figure painted in red. It is a splendid, static stag of excellent craftsmanship, quality and beauty. This enhances the sense of realism, strength and power. The firm outline and the interior, filled in with flat colours using different shades of red, are clearly visible.
This stag is considered the best-preserved and most striking of those found in Upper Aragon.
Arpán
This painted rock shelter is located inside the Arpán ravine. It is surprising that examples of the three classic styles of European prehistory have been found in this small tributary of the River Vero: Palaeolithic paintings in the Fuente del Trucho cave and the Levantine and schematic styles depicted in the Arpán rock shelter.
These cave paintings were the first to be discovered by a team of specialists from the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Huesca in 1978.
The Arpán rock shelter, almost 6 metres deep, houses an important collection of paintings. All the figures are ochre in colour and are distributed across four panels. Guided tours are available.
Muriecho
This rock shelter is situated on the right bank of the Fornocal ravine. Its surroundings are rugged and of great beauty.
It contains the most important scene within the Vero pictorial complex, and is of great significance in Levantine art.
Of particular note is the large central panel, painted in red, depicting a possible and spectacular scene of the capture of a live deer, held by four individuals by its antlers and legs, alongside another figure equipped with a noose. Surrounding this scene, a further 32 figures, in various postures and poses, appear to be witnessing the capture. On the left are depicted five human figures, a sign and a doe.
Regacens
En las proximidades de la localidad de Asque y frente al barranco a la población de Alquézar, se encuentra este abrigo con pinturas rupestres levantinas.
El amplio covacho, utilizado antaño como corral de ganado, alberga pinturas levantinas y esquemáticas en negro y rojo.
En la zona central existe un conjunto de cápridos lRegacens
This rock shelter, featuring Levantine cave paintings, is situated near the village of Asque, opposite the ravine leading to the town of Alquézar.
The spacious cave, once used as a livestock pen, contains Levantine and schematic paintings in black and red.
In the central area there is a group of Levantine caprids, notably a running goat, spots and symbols. To the right, various spots, a schematic quadruped, a repainted deer, a schematic anthropomorphic figure and handprints can be seen.
The collection is completed by anthropomorphic figures, symbols and schematic lines.evantinos, destacando una cabra a la carrera, manchas y signos.A la derecha se observan diversas manchas, cuadrúpedo esquemático, cérvido repintado, antropomorfo esquemático y digitaciones.
El conjunto se completa con antropomorfos, signos y barras esquemáticos.