Archaeologists in northwestern Spain are studying an unusual rock engraving described as “unique in Europe,” as excavations reveal new clues about what researchers believe was a prehistoric sacred landscape. The discovery is part of the fourth archaeological campaign at Santa María Madalena de Adai in Lugo, Galicia.
The area contains petroglyphs, rock shelters and ancient monuments that researchers are studying together rather than as separate sites. University of Santiago de Compostela professor and CISPAC researcher Pilar Prieto is leading the campaign. Excavations began Aug. 31 and are scheduled to continue through Sept. 18, 2026.
Unusual engraving resembles prehistoric hut
Researchers are investigating two rock shelters at Penas do Caldeiro. One, known as Pena Travesa, contains a petroglyph with complex patterns of cup-shaped depressions carved into the rock’s upper surface. The second shelter has attracted particular attention. It contains a large engraving that researchers believe represents the base or floor plan of a prehistoric hut.
The engraving covers about 40 square meters (430 square feet). Prieto described the feature as unique in Europe. Its unusual size and design could give archaeologists new clues about prehistoric architecture and the role such structures played in the wider landscape.
The discovery adds to growing research into prehistoric rock art in Spain, where engravings and paintings have provided evidence of how ancient communities expressed ideas and interacted with their surroundings.
New sites add to archaeological landscape
The latest campaign builds on excavations carried out at nearby Corro dos Mouros from 2023 to 2025. As archaeologists expanded their research across the area, they identified previously undocumented remains. The current work has added six cairns and two petroglyphs to the archaeological record around Adai.
Archaeologists in Spain are studying a mysterious prehistoric rock engraving described as “unique in Europe.”
The 40-square-meter carving may represent the floor plan of an ancient hut and could help reconstruct a prehistoric sacred landscape in Galicia. pic.twitter.com/OhCm4MeQyA
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) September 16, 2026
Galicia has already produced other notable examples of prehistoric rock art. Recent research into Bronze Age boat carvings in northwest Iberia examined rare images from Galicia and northern Portugal that may point to wider connections along Europe’s Atlantic coast.
Researchers are now studying how the rock art, shelters and ancient monuments around Adai relate to one another. Similar research in Spain has shown how prehistoric burial monuments formed part of larger archaeological landscapes, rather than existing as isolated structures. Prieto said the research could contribute to a more complete understanding of what she describes as a “sacred landscape” around Adai.
Surveys could reveal remains underground
Researchers are also preparing to investigate what may lie beneath the surface. Geophysical surveys are planned for late September. The non-invasive methods will allow archaeologists to search for possible buried structures without immediately excavating the ground.
Any unusual features detected during the surveys could help researchers identify areas for future excavation. They may also reveal whether additional archaeological remains exist between the sites already documented. The findings could ultimately provide a clearer picture of how monuments, shelters and natural features formed part of the wider prehistoric landscape.
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