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UFO TIMELINE · PERIOD 1

Prehistory — Before 3300 BCE

Ancient cave paintings, petroglyphs, and archaeological evidence that may suggest early encounters with unexplained aerial phenomena.

INTERPRETIVE CONTEXT · REPORTED ACCOUNTS AND ALTERNATIVE READINGS, NOT ESTABLISHED CONCLUSIONS · 14 EVENTS

c. 40,000 BCE · 1 / 14

Cueva de El Castillo Cave Paintings

Ancient cave paintings in Spain depicting mysterious disc-shaped objects and humanoid figures with elongated heads. Some researchers suggest these could represent early encounters with aerial phenomena.

Cantabria, Spain
  1. c. 40,000 BCE

    Cueva de El Castillo Cave Paintings

    Ancient cave paintings in Spain depicting mysterious disc-shaped objects and humanoid figures with elongated heads. Some researchers suggest these could represent early encounters with aerial phenomena.

    Cantabria, Spain
  2. c. 35,000 BCE

    Chauvet Cave Mysterious Figures

    The Chauvet Cave contains paintings of unusual humanoid figures with large heads and what appear to be objects in the sky. These depictions are among the oldest known cave art.

    Ardèche, France
  3. c. 30,000 BCE

    Pech Merle Cave Spotted Horses

    Cave paintings showing horses with unusual spotted patterns and mysterious disc-like symbols above them, leading some to speculate about ancient aerial observations.

    Lot, France
  4. c. 25,000 BCE

    Lascaux-style Sky Symbols

    Various European caves from this period contain recurring symbols of circular objects in the sky, often accompanied by human figures pointing upward.

    Various locations, Europe