Description
The Rupestre Art, "art on rock," is composed of the pictorial manifestations that our remote ancestors left on the walls of numerous covacas and petreous coats of our saws, in prehistoric times (in our region, from the Neolithic, to the Bronze Age).
These more or less realistic but generally schematic manifestations reproduce human beings, animals and symbols, forming isolated scenes. The representations not only evoke and report part of daily life, but leave us witness to its complex v mysterious spirituality.
World Heritage Site
The saw surrounding the municipality of Jaén houses interesting sets of rock art, a large number of coats and caves where the first inhabitants of the municipality left their art. In 1998 it became part of the UNESCO catalogue as World Heritage Site.
Outdoor museums
These sites can be considered as authentic outdoor museums of incalculable value, whose preservation concerns each and every fellow citizen. When visiting them, we must remember that we contemplate figures made by the primitive man, not least human and intelligent, more than 4,000 years ago. It's all by law, Cultural Interest Property.
Visit the paintings
Visiting these places can be difficult and frustrating, not only because of their access; it can be dangerous, but because sometimes their conservation status is the least poor; and it is recommended that they be visited with a specialist. For this purpose, before scheduling the visit, it is advisable to consult with someone familiar with the place (to advise and guide) or even to be accompanied by a responsible local guide (it is advisable to contact local authorities or associations).
The municipality of Jaén has an interesting collection of rock art, not only in the vicinity of the municipality, such as the Abrigo de Fuente de la Peña Sur or the Abrigo del Cerro de la Mella; but also in other locations such as Otiñar, Río Frio, el Quiebrajano and Canjorro-Peñas de Castro.
