New Upper Palaeolithic Rock Art Complex in the Tejo Valley, Central Portugal

Abstract This short report presents newly discovered Palaeolithic rock art panels within the Ocreza Valley (Lower Tejo River), central Portugal, comprising several engraved zoomorphic figures, including auroch and horse. Together, they substantially increase upon the previous headless horse found in 2000, and the style of the engravings is identical to Upper Palaeolithic open-air engravings from other areas of western Iberia, including the Côa, Sabor, Tua, Siega Verde, La Salud, Zêzere valleys, and Vale Boi. Currently, no clear deposits with Upper Palaeolithic artefacts have been identified over and next to the newly discovered rock. However, these discoveries indicate the occupation of Ocreza Valley during the Upper Palaeolithic and a possible concentration of Upper Palaeolithic rock art in this area of the Tejo Valley, yet to be established. If confirmed by future fieldwork, such Palaeolithic rock art may be overlapping the territory of an already-known Holocene-dated Tejo Rock Art Complex.