Around 14,000 years ago, children in Las Monedas Cave in Spain likely created what is now called the “Panel of the Enigmatic Signs.” While adults were busy drawing detailed charcoal images of animals like bison and reindeer, children aged 3 to 6 worked in their own section of the cave, drawing at their height. Their panel, about a meter wide and 60 centimeters high, is filled with scribbles similar to what young kids today might make, like rough circles and shaky lines.

Researchers used 3D scans to study the markings and compared them to how children today learn to draw. They found that these drawings were likely made by children working on their own, not under the guidance of adults. The kids seemed to be exploring and experimenting with materials like charcoal in a safe space near the adults, who probably used fires or torches to light the dark cave.

This discovery challenges the long-standing belief that children’s involvement in ancient cave art was limited to following adult guidance or being used to create stencils. Instead, it shows that children were independently exploring and experimenting with materials like charcoal, actively contributing to their community’s cultural practices. Researchers hope this approach will lead to the identification of more examples of children’s art in ancient caves, offering new perspectives on their roles in early societies.