MADRID – In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have uncovered a 43,000-year-old fingerprint on a rock in Spain, believed to be the oldest known human fingerprint.
Breaking: Neanderthal Artistry Unveiled
Archaeologists have identified a human fingerprint left on a small granite pebble in central Spain, marking it as the oldest known human fingerprint. Experts suggest that a Neanderthal intentionally created this print approximately 43,000 years ago, potentially as an early form of art.
Published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Science, the study reveals that the fingerprint was left in red ocher pigment, indicating an attempt to paint a face on the rock. This discovery sheds light on the cognitive abilities of Neanderthals, suggesting they had the capacity for abstract thought.
Immediate Impact: A Window into Prehistoric Art
The discovery was made in the San Lazaro rock shelter, where researchers used advanced techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and multispectral spectroscopy to analyze the print. The fingerprint was found to be complete and was forensically confirmed to be of human origin.
“This object contributes to our understanding of Neanderthals’ capacity for abstraction, suggesting that it could represent one of the earliest human facial symbolizations in prehistory,” wrote the study authors.
Key Details Emerge: The Artistic Neanderthal
The rock, believed to have originated from the Eresma River, was not used as a tool, a rarity for the Middle Paleolithic period. Instead, it served a non-utilitarian function, possibly as an artistic canvas. The researchers noted that the pebble’s form and the red pigment suggest the Neanderthal intended to depict a human face, complete with eyes, a mouth, and a nose ridge.
According to the study, the fingerprint was intentionally placed, with the pigment applied directly by finger. The act of painting and placing the rock in the shelter may have been part of a ritualistic behavior or simply an early form of abstract art.
Expert Analysis: A Glimpse into Neanderthal Cognition
Experts from the Complutense University of Madrid, the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, the General Commissariat of Scientific Police of the National Police, and the University of Salamanca collaborated on this research. They emphasize that this finding challenges previous assumptions about Neanderthal intelligence and creativity.
“It is not just a fingerprint; it is the signature of an individual who manipulated this object with a purpose that goes beyond the utilitarian,” the researchers wrote.
Background Context: The Evolution of Human Art
The discovery of this fingerprint adds to the growing body of evidence that Neanderthals engaged in symbolic activities long before the arrival of modern humans in Europe. Previous findings have shown that Neanderthals created cave art and personal ornaments, indicating a complex cognitive world.
This development builds on previous research suggesting that Neanderthals were capable of creating art and engaging in symbolic thought processes similar to early Homo sapiens.
What Comes Next: Future Research Directions
The study opens new avenues for understanding the cognitive and cultural evolution of Neanderthals. Future research will likely focus on uncovering more evidence of Neanderthal art and understanding the implications of these findings on the perception of prehistoric human behavior.
As researchers continue to explore the San Lazaro rock shelter and other archaeological sites, the potential for discovering more about the lives and minds of our ancient relatives remains vast.
