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This artwork, found in the Maltravieso Cave of Spain, features hand stencils. Experts have dated it to at least 64,000 years ago, confirming that it was likely created by Neanderthals. H. Collado/University of SouthamptonIf Neanderthals were still around, they might feel inferior, constantly compared to Homo sapiens. Since the first Neanderthal fossils were discovered, they were often portrayed as primitive, unintelligent, and incapable of language, leading many to assume their extinction was inevitable.
However, recent research is giving the Neanderthal reputation a well-deserved boost. Scientists at the University of Southampton and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology used uranium-thorium dating, a more accurate method than radiocarbon dating, to confirm that three cave paintings across Spain are over 64,000 years old.
Researchers discovered minute carbonate deposits containing traces of uranium and thorium in ancient cave paintings. These traces enabled them to estimate when the deposits were formed, providing an age estimate for the artwork.
Why does this matter? Homo sapiens, the human species, didn’t arrive in Europe until about 20,000 years later, which means Neanderthals were the first to create this kind of art. Additionally, their use of symbols challenges the prevailing academic view about their intellectual capabilities. "When you have symbols, then you have language," explained study co-author João Zilhão, as reported by The New York Times.
The cave paintings are mostly in red and black, featuring geometric patterns, handprints, hand stencils, various animals, and linear symbols. The study's authors assert, "Thus, [Neanderthals] exhibited a far more complex symbolic behavior than previously believed," as published in the February 23, 2018, issue of Science journal.
This breakthrough could prompt anthropologists to reconsider their previous views on other cave art and how Neanderthals evolved over time.
"Neanderthals were initially depicted as crude and uncultured, incapable of producing art or engaging in symbolic behavior, a stereotype that still exists in some circles," said study co-director Alistair Pike in a press release. "The debate over how human-like Neanderthal behavior was remains heated. Our findings will play a significant role in that discussion."
The exact reasons behind the Neanderthal species' extinction remain unknown, but there are several theories. One possibility is that the disappearance of the large Ice Age animals they relied on for food may have contributed. Alternatively, it is suggested that Neanderthals were outmatched by Homo sapiens, who had advanced tools like sewing needles for creating warm clothing and bows/arrows for hunting. However, some researchers argue that Neanderthals didn't entirely vanish, as they interbred with Homo sapiens.
