Creepy Cafe of Beasts: Scientists may never know why the Saharan cave 8,000-year-old handprints were made

Imagine venturing into a creepy Saharan cave and finding tiny handprints that look so much like baby handprints. But when it is revealed that the prints are not human, that’s when one starts believing aliens were once there in that cave.

Scientists from McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research have discovered 8,000-year-old handprints inside the Egyptian Cave of Beasts, located in Egypt's southwest border with Libya. Scientists stumbled upon more than 5000 images carved into the stone 14 years ago.

A study of 13 tiny handprints has revealed that they were not even alien but that of tiny lizards or crocodiles. The eerie cave, also known by the name Wadi Sura II, has amazed scientist Emmanuelle Honoré for years. Honoré is also associated with Centre national de la recherché scientifique in France.

Wadi Sura II was discovered in 2002 and archaeologists were gobsmacked by the innumerable prints and sketches adorning its prehistoric walls. The cave featured images of headless creatures, humans and animals as well. The cave was given the name Cafe of Beasts and is one of Sahara’s greatest ancient rock sites.

However, the 13 tiny handprints were smaller than baby hands and had long fingers, unlike humans. Even though Honoré is sure that the prints belong to tiny lizards or crocodiles, she is unsure why they are there. Why would any civilisation want to have animal legs on walls?

Moreover, Honoré said that animal sketches were common in Australia and South America but not Sahara. She is not sure if she will ever get a definitive answer, writes News.com.au.

“Wadi Sura II can be considered as the most important rock art site in all North Africa, because of the huge number of paintings,” she said.

The results of the study that found the handprints were not human have been published in the Journal of Archeological Science.