Portugal and Portuguese

Escoural cave. Gruta do Escoural.

The first artistic manifestation in Portugal dates back to 20.000 years ago. It was first discovered at Herdade da Sala at Montemor-O-Novo at Alentejo.
While exploring a quarry, a cave was discovered where it was proved there was human ocupation through bones and ceramics found at the site.
There were paintings and engravings covered by calcite as well as represented animals and geometric motifs based on the same type of art discovered at France and Cantábrica cave, in Spain.
This cave had several purposes along the years. It was used by Homo Sapiens Sapiens as a place for rituals of the dead and while calcolytic times, thousand years later, it served as a little fortification.
It's now a santuary of this kind of art in black and red colours with 78 represented figures, majority placed at Grande Sala and to reach it, if you have the opportunity, you have to cross two other galeries.
It's mainly represented horses, even one that it's called a hybrid since it has a horse head and a human body which is said to be from the shamanism rituals. This is the mainly theme of the cave, hunting activity known to be the most practiced activity of the paleolithic.

Also read about: O Cavalo do Mazouco (horse of Mazouco) and Vale do Côa (World Heritage site by UNESCO)
Website: http://www.cm-montemornovo.pt/pt/site-visitar/turismo/Paginas/Visitas.aspx

Consulta: Arte Portuguesa, Círculo de Leitores, 2011