The limestone cliffs and caves of the region were where some of the most
incredible prehistoric artifacts in Europe have been found. Ancient
civilizations lived in these caves from 50,000 to 15,000 years ago and left
behind everything from tools, household items,  and impressive artwork.

We visited one cave where we saw several types of cave art. Some of the art
appeared to be painted on the walls with something like charcoal while other
drawings were scratched into the limestone. There was also art that could be
describe as sculpture – as it was three dimensional and protruding from the
rocks.  Animals always seemed to be the subject of the art – what we saw
included mammoths, horses, wooly rhino, and reindeer. Some of the most
impressive paintings were more than 1 kilometer deep in the cave posing the
question – what were prehistoric people doing down there?

The visit was absolutely fascinating and puts yet another new perspective on
time. As an American when you come to Europe, everything seems so “old” and yet,
in context of the prehistoric civilizations that lived here, the Cathedrals all
over Europe from the medieval period and even the ancient forts that we saw
while we were in Ireland are actually quite modern.