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25,000-Year-Old 'Luminous' Rock Art Depicting Extinct Giant Zebras Discovered in a Remote Namibian Grotto

📅 April 9, 2026 📰 Ancient Origins
25,000-Year-Old 'Luminous' Rock Art Depicting Extinct Giant Zebras Discovered in a Remote Namibian Grotto

In the Erongo Region of Namibia, researchers have discovered a hidden grotto containing some of the world's most unique Upper Paleolithic rock art. The paintings, which depict the now-extinct Equus capensis (giant Cape zebra), were created using rare phosphorescent minerals that glow faintly in near-total darkness.

This suggests the cave was used for nocturnal rituals where the artwork was meant to be viewed by the light of a small, controlled flame. The intricate detail of the stripes and the sheer scale of the zebras—some reaching three meters in length—highlight the sophisticated artistic capabilities of early hunter-gatherer societies in Southern Africa over 25,000 years ago.

Original source: Ancient Origins