Unleashing the Artistic Side of Neanderthals: Oldest Known Engravings Discovered in French Cave

Archaeologists have identified what are believed to be the oldest known Neanderthal engravings in a French cave. The markings, consisting of a series of lines and dots, were discovered in 2018 in the cave of Bruniquel in southwestern France. After extensive analysis, the researchers were able to confirm that the markings were made by Neanderthals more than 176,000 years ago. The discovery pushes back the timeline for Neanderthal art by tens of thousands of years. The engravings were found deep inside the cave, inaccessible to the public, and were made using a flint tool. The researchers believe that the markings may have had a symbolic or decorative purpose, although their exact meaning remains a mystery. The discovery sheds new light on the artistic abilities of Neanderthals, who were previously thought to have been less advanced than modern humans. It also suggests that Neanderthals may have had complex social and cultural practices that were previously unknown. The cave of Bruniquel has been the site of several significant archaeological discoveries in recent years, including the discovery of a chamber containing the remains of several Neanderthals in 1990. The new discovery is expected to attract further interest and research to the area.