Whenever we feel like we know everything around us, and that nothing can surprise us anymore, historical and natural wonders always prove us wrong. This recent discovery of ancient rock art that stretches across an 8-mile wall is also such a wonder, and it will surely leave you speechless.

A British-Colombian team of archaeologists led by José Iriart discovered these breathtaking prehistoric paintings. The mesmerizing rock art is located in Serranía La Lindosa, in the remote Amazon rainforest. Painted across a cliff that stretches up to 8 might miles, the collection consists of thousands of cave paintings created around 11,800 to 12,500 years ago.

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A number of wild animals including deer, tapirs, turtles, bats, alligators, serpents, porcupines, etc are represented among these paintings. Depictions of Ice Age megafauna, mastodons, camelids, ungulates, and giant sloths can also be found in this collection of drawings. By studying them, it’s possible to learn lots of new information about the native animals that have gone extinct.

According to Dr. Mark Robinson of the University of Exeter, these images are truly incredible. He stated that they have been painted by the earliest residents of western Amazonia. Imagine having to deal with such giant herbivores on a daily basis; sounds impossible, right?

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This long cliff of prehistoric paintings is also identified as the “Sistine Chapel of the ancients”, and was discovered last year. However, it was kept a secret from the public. Initially, the site was filmed for a documentary which will be screened on Channel 4, in December, named “Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon”. Ella Al-Shamahi, the presenter of this documentary, stated that a name hasn’t been finalized for the site yet.

José Iriart, the leader of the team of researchers that made this amazing discovery, is a professor of archaeology at Exeter University and an expert on Amazon and pre-Colombian history. About the new discovery, he stated: “When you’re there, your emotions flow… Every turn you do, it’s a new wall of paintings.”

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All the images are well-preserved and highly detailed, which is truly remarkable. In a statement, Iriart explained that this ancient art serves as fascinating evidence of how humans modified the land to suit their needs, without harming any of the natural components.

Iriart also believes that among ancient Amazonian residents, art was a powerful part of the culture and a way of socializing. So, check out these stunning images of prehistoric paintings and share your thoughts with us in the comments!

Image credits: gipri