Ancient Finger Impression on Shaped Pebble, believed to be 43,000 years old, potentially marks the earliest known Neanderthal artwork uncovered.
proofthat Neanderthals had the capacity for abstract thought and symbolic behavior previously thought to be exclusively modern human traits. This evidence comes from an ancient granite pebble discovered in a cave in central Spain, which bears a red ochre fingerprint. This fingerprint, dating back approximately 43,000 years, is the oldest complete human fingerprint ever found.
Researchers suggest that the fingerprint was deliberately left behind by a Neanderthal, who placed it on the pebble in a manner that resembled a nose on a human-like face. This pebble is now recognized as the oldest known example of "portable art" in Europe and offers the first direct evidence of Neanderthals' ability to Think abstractly and use symbols.
Some archaeologists believe that the stone, naturally shaped like a face with a single red dot, is an example of pareidolia—the psychological phenomenon where the brain perceives faces in inanimate objects. The Neanderthal who picked up the pebble likely recognized its face-like shape and, in an act of symbolic expression, enhanced its features by adding a red ochre "nose."
To confirm their hypothesis, researchers conducted an investigation that included analyzing the composition of the red pigment in the fingerprint. They found that the pigment was made of materials not naturally found at the site or nearby, indicating that the red mark had been brought there intentionally. Forensic experts later confirmed that the red mark was made by a human fingertip, identifying it as a complete and unique Neanderthal fingerprint.
This finding demonstrates that Neanderthals not only recognized a face-like shape but also consciously chose to leave a personal mark, a fingerprint, on something that resonated with them. It suggests that Neanderthals were capable of seeing patterns, imagining faces, and making meaningful connections to objects in their environment—traits often associated with modern humans.
This discovery challenges the widely-held belief that symbolic thinking and artistic expression are unique to modern humans. It offers tangible evidence that Neanderthals had the capacity to create meaning from their surroundings and engage in abstract and symbolic behaviors, potentially even early forms of artistic expression.
This study was published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, adding to the growing body of evidence that Neanderthals were more complex and sophisticated than previously thought, proving that they were capable of symbolic thought and early examples of artistic expression.
References:
- mendeley.com/catalog/dqgw0rdksd8f
- www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)01020-8
- www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22942-4
- link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12520-019-1026-3
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8690272/
- This groundbreaking discovery in biology has redefined our understanding of Neanderthals, suggesting they possessed abstract thought and symbolic behavior, previously considered exclusive to modern humans.
- The ancient granite pebble, adorned with a red ochre fingerprint, found in a Spanish cave, is the oldest known example of "portable art" in Europe, offering evidence of Neanderthals' ability to engage in abstract and symbolic expression.
- In the realm of science and research, this finding challenges traditional beliefs, shedding light on Neanderthals' capacity for symbolic thinking and early forms of artistic expression.
- Neuroscience relies on this evidence to study the origins of human cognitive abilities, revealing potential similarities between Neanderthals and us in sensing patterns, imagining, and making connections to their environment.
- Technology and educational platforms have now embraced this development, integrating it into education and self-development resources, enriching our understanding of general-news stories related to Neanderthals and human evolution.
- This research also opens doors for entertainment, providing fresh inspiration for writers, filmmakers, and game designers to explore the fascinating world of Neanderthals and their educational, lifestyle, medical-conditions, sports, and tech-related discoveries.
- In the broader context of society, understanding the complexity of Neanderthals adds depth to our perception of Earth's history, fostering a sense of connection and appreciation for various cultures and the advancements they have made throughout time.
