In Memory of José Antonio Lasheras - 1956 - 2016

The cave of Altamira, renowned for its Upper Palaeolithic paintings & charcoal drawings, is located near Santillana del Mar in Cantabria, northern Spain. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

The rock art of Altamira was begun during the Aurignacian period, the first chapter of Upper Palaeolithic art in Europe. The art was created over a period of 20,000 years, between 35,559 and 15,204 cal BP.

"Look, Papa, oxen!" - the words exclaimed by Maria, the daughter of Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola. He was a local resident and amateur archaeologist who had heard of the discovery & visited the cave in 1875.

The research program 'The Times of Altamira' initiated by the Museum in 2003 to thoroughly examine the archaeology of Altamira, both inside and out, contributing to a new understanding of the Altamira Cave.

The Museum of Altamira is a place devoted to learning about, enjoying & experiencing the life of those who painted and inhabited the cave of Altamira. It offers the possibility of knowing humanity's first art.

Ancient rock art and cave paintings from around the world on the Bradshaw Foundation archive, dedicated to the study, research and preservation of early humankind’s artistic and cultural achievements.