Researchers in Spain have presented evidence suggesting that Neanderthals were capable of creating art, calling into question the belief that artistic expression was exclusive to modern humans. The pivotal finding comes from a quartz-rich granite pebble unearthed in a rock shelter in central Spain, dating between 42,000 and 43,000 years ago. Measuring over 8 inches, the pebble features curves and indentations resembling a human face, with a notable red dot positioned where a nose would be.
This red dot was identified as ochre, a natural pigment, and further analysis revealed it was applied intentionally, confirmed by forensic police as a fingerprint. Lead researcher David Álvarez-Alonso posited that the Neanderthal, likely an adult male, perceived the pebble as a face—a phenomenon known as pareidolia—and chose to enhance this representation, creating what could be one of the oldest abstractions of a human face known in prehistoric times.
Álvarez-Alonso described the act as a simple yet significant display of symbolization. The presence of this unique fingerprint—the most complete Neanderthal print to date—highlights the sophistication of Neanderthal behavior, suggesting a potential for symbolic thinking. While some argue Neanderthals were not less intelligent than modern humans, this pebble remains an isolated artifact with no direct parallels to other finds.
The discovery contributes to a growing body of evidence indicating that Neanderthals exhibited symbolic behavior, illustrating that their cognitive abilities may have been more complex than previously acknowledged. However, Álvarez-Alonso cautions against overly direct comparisons between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, emphasizing that the Neanderthal symbolic framework was likely less complex than that of modern humans.
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