A new methodology allows for a more precise review of Late Paleolithic portable art and improves the reliability of archaeological interpretations
The study has reinterpreted three pieces from the Matutano Cave in Vilafamés (Spain) and confirmed that only two of them belong to the Late Paleolithic
Universitat Jaume I
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A team of archaeologists from the Universitat Jaume I, the University of Barcelona, and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) has developed a new methodology that allows for a much more detailed, precise and objective analysis of Late Paleolithic portable art pieces. Thanks to this study, the research team was able to review several previously published pieces from Matutano Cave (Vilafamés), a reference site in the Iberian Mediterranean, with greater accuracy and demonstrate that some of the marks previously interpreted as artistic motifs are not anthropic engravings but natural surface reliefs.
Late Paleolithic art is usually characterized by very fine engravings, barely visible to the naked eye, often affected by taphonomic alterations, surface irregularities, and unclear morphologies, which complicates their identification and interpretation. This new methodology allows for a more precise analysis of the remains using photogrammetry and microtopographic analysis techniques. The results were recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
The high-precision recording protocol integrates close-range photogrammetry, digital elevation models (DEM), and surface analysis based on geographic information systems (GIS) to detect and quantify extremely fine engravings at a submillimetric scale. This enables a detailed characterization of groove morphology, variations in depth and width, and cross-sectional profiles. The application of this low-cost methodology provides a more objective record of the trajectories, shapes and volumes of the engravings, supporting researchers’ interpretation work and reducing reliance on subjective assessments.
To validate the methodology, the team carried out a recording programme. This programme served as a reference framework for interpreting archaeological marks with greater reliability. Once it was verified that the new method provided reliable data, it was applied to three pieces from Matutano Cave, one of the most extensive Late Paleolithic portable art assemblages on the Iberian Peninsula, and used as a reference for the relative dating of other rock art manifestations. As a result, updated and more precise tracings were made for two of the pieces, and it was confirmed that the third does not contain anthropic engravings, as the observed marks correspond to natural rock reliefs.
view moreCredit: UJI-UB-ICREA researchs
A team of archaeologists from the Universitat Jaume I, the University of Barcelona, and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) has developed a new methodology that allows for a much more detailed, precise and objective analysis of Late Paleolithic portable art pieces. Thanks to this study, the research team was able to review several previously published pieces from Matutano Cave (Vilafamés), a reference site in the Iberian Mediterranean, with greater accuracy and demonstrate that some of the marks previously interpreted as artistic motifs are not anthropic engravings but natural surface reliefs.
Late Paleolithic art is usually characterized by very fine engravings, barely visible to the naked eye, often affected by taphonomic alterations, surface irregularities, and unclear morphologies, which complicates their identification and interpretation. This new methodology allows for a more precise analysis of the remains using photogrammetry and microtopographic analysis techniques. The results were recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
The high-precision recording protocol integrates close-range photogrammetry, digital elevation models (DEM), and surface analysis based on geographic information systems (GIS) to detect and quantify extremely fine engravings at a submillimetric scale. This enables a detailed characterization of groove morphology, variations in depth and width, and cross-sectional profiles. The application of this low-cost methodology provides a more objective record of the trajectories, shapes and volumes of the engravings, supporting researchers’ interpretation work and reducing reliance on subjective assessments.
To validate the methodology, the team carried out a recording programme. This programme served as a reference framework for interpreting archaeological marks with greater reliability. Once it was verified that the new method provided reliable data, it was applied to three pieces from Matutano Cave, one of the most extensive Late Paleolithic portable art assemblages on the Iberian Peninsula, and used as a reference for the relative dating of other rock art manifestations. As a result, updated and more precise tracings were made for two of the pieces, and it was confirmed that the third does not contain anthropic engravings, as the observed marks correspond to natural rock reliefs.
“European Late Paleolithic rock art and portable art are characterized by subtle execution, combined with taphonomic alterations, surface irregularities, and unclear morphologies, which poses a considerable challenge for precise identification, documentation, and interpretation”, explains the research team, composed of Alfredo Sánchez-Hernández, from the Pre-Eina Group at the Universitat Jaume I; Dídac Román, Professor of Prehistory at the UJI; and Inés Domingo, from ICREA and the University of Barcelona.
The proposed method provides a replicable framework for the reevaluation of other engraved assemblages and contributes to a more precise interpretation of prehistoric artistic and technological behaviour. Additionally, it allows for the identification of intentional variations in pressure, movement, and tool execution related to anatomical details, material properties and artistic skills and choices.
This methodology also has important implications for the conservation and accessibility of portable art. By relying on precise, high-quality 3D documentation, a digital twin can reliably substitute the original piece, allowing detailed examination and verification of engravings without repeatedly handling the original object. This reduces the risk of damage and enables archaeological staff to conduct independent assessments remotely, eliminating or minimizing the need for physical access. Furthermore, it is a low-cost and widely accessible approach, facilitating broad adoption without the need for expensive specialized equipment.
For these reasons, the three archaeologists believe that “by integrating experimental validation with archaeological application, this method offers robust and replicable analyses that significantly enhance our understanding of engraving techniques, technological practices, and artistic behavior in the Paleolithic”, and that this combination of techniques “has enabled the collection and analysis of surface elevation data at an unprecedented resolution, bridging the gap between qualitative observation and quantitative surface analysis”.
Article: To be or not to be an engraving: testing photogrammetry and DEM for identifying or disproving fine prehistoric engravings, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 69, 2026, 105530, ISSN 2352-409X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105530.
Journal
Journal of Archaeological Science
Method of Research
Computational simulation/modeling
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
To be or not to be an engraving: testing photogrammetry and DEM for identifying or disproving fine prehistoric engravings
Article Publication Date
3-Feb-2026
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