The oldest Neanderthal art ever found has been unveiled, shedding light on the cave drawings created over 57,000 years ago by Paleolithic humans in a cave beneath the French countryside. According to BGR's report, the engravings were formed by the pressing and dragging of fingers on the soft, chalky rock, serving as an intriguing testament to their unknown narrative.
The study, titled "The earliest unambiguous Neanderthal engravings on cave walls: La Roche-Cotard, Loire Valley, France" published in PLOS One, provides a detailed analysis of the cave drawings found in the Loire Valley, France, comparing them to similar markings discovered globally.
Scientists Found Evidence of the Oldest Neanderthal Art
The study conducted by researchers from France, Denmark, and Portugal confirmed that the cave wall engravings in La Roche-Cotard, estimated to be about 75,000 years old, were created by Neanderthals.
As per an article in Inverse, these engravings are known as finger-flutings and were made by human hands, establishing La Roche-Cotard as the oldest decorated site in France and potentially in Europe.
Jean-Claude Marquet, the first author and an archaeology research associate at the University of Tours in France, had previously visited La Roche-Cotard during field campaigns in the late 1970s. However, it was only later, by chance, that Marquet came across a notice about the site and decided to investigate further. In 2008, he returned to the cave as part of an international effort to date the engravings.
Using sediment layers, the researchers determined that the cave's entrance had been buried for at least 57,000 years and possibly as long as 75,000 years ago. This timeframe predates the arrival of Homo sapiens in that part of Europe, reinforcing the notion that the art was created by Neanderthals. The presence of distinct Neanderthal tools found throughout the cave further supports this identification.
One notable discovery from La Roche-Cotard is a flint artifact known as the "mask," possibly carved into the shape of a human face, which Marquet also dated. For him, this finding represents the culmination of 40 years of careful and precise research on the wall markings in the cave.
The study sheds new light on the ancient artistic expressions of Neanderthals, providing valuable insights into their cultural practices and expanding our understanding of human history.
Human Ancestors Expressed Themselves Through Art
Artistic expressions by human ancestors date back to ancient times, as per Smithsonian Magazine. Homo erectus, for example, carved zigzag patterns on a shell over 500,000 years ago. Recently, handprints and footprints, potentially arranged by early hominin children, were discovered on the Tibetan Plateau dating back around 200,000 years.
Neanderthals, specifically Homo neanderthalensis, are also believed to have created some of the oldest cave paintings. In Spain, 65,000-year-old paintings attributed to Neanderthal artists were found, featuring red pigmented designs made by drawing around hands or pressing stained fingertips onto cave walls.
Later examples of cave art demonstrate the distinct style of Homo sapiens. A purplish pig depicted on the walls of Leang Tedongnge cave in Indonesia, estimated to be 45,500 years old, could be the earliest known figurative artwork. El Castillo cave in Spain and Chauvet cave in France showcase complex, figurative art depicting lions and mammoths, possibly created 30,000 to 40,000 years ago.
While there are differences between Neanderthal and Homo sapiens art, it does not imply that Neanderthal creations were less sophisticated. The emergence of prehistoric carvings and paintings for each species is believed to be influenced by social dynamics and specific needs at that time, even if those needs remain mysterious to us today.
RELATED ARTICLE: Neanderthal Art Over Time Suggests Their Changing Social Structures, Scientist Says
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