Researchers in Spain have uncovered evidence suggesting that Neanderthals created art, challenging the notion that artistic expression originated solely with modern humans. The artifact in question is a quartz-rich granite pebble excavated from a rock shelter in central Spain, dated between 42,000 and 43,000 years old. Measuring over 8 inches long, it resembles a human face, complete with a red dot positioned where a nose would be. This red dot was identified as ochre, a natural pigment, and further analysis by Spanish forensic police confirmed it was a fingerprint, indicating intentional application by a Neanderthal.
Lead author David Álvarez-Alonso speculates that the Neanderthal, likely an adult male, perceived the pebble’s features as a face—a psychological phenomenon known as pareidolia—and added the red dot, presenting one of the oldest known human face abstractions in prehistory. Álvarez-Alonso described this act as a simple yet significant form of symbolism.
This discovery is notable, being the most complete Neanderthal fingerprint found, alongside previous evidence of symbolic behavior in the species. Neanderthals coexisted with early modern humans for a period and, despite their extinction around 40,000 years ago, evidence suggests they possessed cognitive capabilities similar to Homo sapiens. While the pebble represents a unique find with no direct parallels, it contributes to the understanding of Neanderthal symbolic thought.
Álvarez-Alonso advises against making direct comparisons between the symbolic expressions of Neanderthals and modern humans, as the former did not develop a visual symbolic system as complex as that of Homo sapiens. Nevertheless, the pebble offers valuable insight into the cognitive complexity of Neanderthals, indicating their capacity for creating symbols.
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