In painted caves, ancient human DNA clings to the walls

The traces could someday help link prehistoric paintings to the people who made them

A photo of a researcher in a mask and gloves examining the floor of a cave.

A researcher obtains samples from a prehistoric cave painting.

Alberto Martínez Villa, A. Bossoms Mesa et al/Nature Communications 2026

For the first time, scientists have recovered ancient human DNA from cave walls. 

The search took place at caves throughout Spain and Portugal known for prehistoric paintings, including Spain’s famed Cave of Altamira.