Ancient cave art in Iberia may have been created by Neandertals
In short: Researchers using uranium-thorium dating on mineral crusts found that cave paintings in Spain are much older than previously believed. By dating the carbonate layers covering specific motifs, the study found that this art is older than 64.8 thousand years, predating the arrival of modern humans in Europe by at least 20 thousand years.
The study analyzed carbonate crusts overlying a red linear motif in La Pasiega, a hand stencil in Maltravieso, and red-painted speleothems in Ardales. This suggests Neandertals may have engaged in symbolic behavior long before modern humans arrived in the region. However, the dating provides only minimum ages for the art.
Why it matters: This finding suggests that symbolic behavior, such as cave painting, may have been practiced by Neandertals.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Hoffmann et al. (2018). U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art. Science.
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