A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar

Abstract

The production of purposely made painted or engraved designs on cave walls-a means of recording and transmitting symbolic codes in a durable manner-is recognized as a major cognitive step in human evolution. Considered exclusive to modern humans, this behavior has been used to argue in favor of significant cognitive differences between our direct ancestors and contemporary archaic hominins, including the Neanderthals. Here we present the first known example of an abstract pattern engraved by Neanderthals, from Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar. It consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into the bedrock of the cave that has remained covered by an undisturbed archaeological level containing Mousterian artifacts made by Neanderthals and is older than 39 cal kyr BP. Geochemical analysis of the epigenetic coating over the engravings and experimental replication show that the engraving was made before accumulation of the archaeological layers, and that most of the lines composing the design were made by repeatedly and carefully passing a pointed lithic tool into the grooves, excluding the possibility of an unintentional or utilitarian origin (e.g., food or fur processing). This discovery demonstrates the capacity of the Neanderthals for abstract thought and expression through the use of geometric forms.Middle Paleolithic | symbolism | art | Iberia | cognition

Cultural contact over the Strait of Gibraltar during the Middle Palaeolithic? Evaluating the visibility of cultural exchange

“…Apart from personal ornaments, evidence for symbolic behaviour comes from Gorham´s Cave, where a rock engraving has been discovered (Rodríguez Vidal et al, 2014). According to the authors the engraving has been covered by intact Mousterian sediments giving a terminus ante quem of around 39 ka (Rodríguez Vidal et al, 2014).…”

“…According to the authors the engraving has been covered by intact Mousterian sediments giving a terminus ante quem of around 39 ka (Rodríguez Vidal et al, 2014).…”

I remember. Differences between the Neanderthal and modern human mind

“…Neanderthals could have used jewellery (Zilhão et al 2010;Peresani et al 2013), buried their dead (Rendu et al 2014), and perhaps even created rock art (Pike et al 2012;Rodriguez-Vidal et al 2014), but these expressions of behaviour not directed solely towards survival, cannot be compared to the number, recognisability, and quality of similar finds occurring in Pleistocene Europe after the arrival of modern humans. Because such finds reflect capacity for mental time travel, it seems that this ability truly developed only in the Late Palaeolithic with modern humans, while Neanderthals might have perceived the flow of time differently.…”

Identifying early modern human ecological niche expansions and associated cultural dynamics in the South African Middle Stone Age

“…At a number of sites, starting at 130 ka, they used raptor claws and feathers, probably for symbolic activities (18,19). They made abstract designs on a variety of media (20,21). Neanderthals in the Near East and Europe engaged very early in a variety of funerary practices, including deliberate burials with simple grave goods.…”