Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park preserves a shallow sandstone cave in the Santa Ynez Mountains northwest of Santa Barbara, beside the community of Painted Cave. Its walls and ceiling hold Chumash rock art created over many centuries, from about 200 years ago to possibly 1,000 years ago or more, using mineral pigments and other materials. The imagery is generally understood to reflect Chumash cosmology and other subjects. The cave is one of the few places where original Chumash rock art remains publicly accessible. Later graffiti by early white settlers damaged the site and helped lead to stronger protection, state preservation, and historic designation.