Cave paintings found in Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo: Sixty-one petroglyphs and two bas-relief sculptures believed to 5,000 years old were found in the Dominican Republic, a media report said. Raul Fernandez, a local resident, found the work in a cave in northern Monteclaro town, the Listin Diario daily said Tuesday. Spanish archaeologist Adolfo Lopez said the petroglyphs and sculptures could be 5,000 years old. Lopez, a specialist in cave art at Madrid`s Universidad Complutense, said one of the Monteclaro sculptures is among the three most important pre-Columbian cave art ever found, due to its particular shape and because such works are so rarely found. "This sculpture is the last bas-relief of quality to be found in the Antilles. It portrays a figure sitting in a fetal position, which gives the idea that it is dedicated to fertility," he said. Lopez christened the cave with the name of "Raul de Monteclaro" in honour of its discoverer and the place where it is located. IANS