Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola was a Spanish archaeologist born in 1831. He is best known for discovering the famous Altamira Cave in Cantabria, Spain, which contains remarkable prehistoric cave paintings. His work in the late 19th century helped to establish the significance of prehistoric art in Europe. Sautuola's discovery of the cave paintings in 1879 was initially met with skepticism from the scientific community. However, his findings eventually gained recognition, contributing to the understanding of Paleolithic culture and the development of archaeology as a discipline. He passed away in 1888, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.