Did Neanderthals Really Create Art?

Recently, a video claimed that Neanderthals created art. This is a fascinating and well-researched question that has been the subject of much discussion in the field of archaeology. According to National Geographic, paintings in caves in the Iberian Peninsula, dating back 6500 years, have been detailed in their publications on cave art. These findings suggest that there may be more to Neanderthal capabilities than previously believed.

Art in the Prehistoric World

The age of the earliest art keeps being pushed back further and further into the past. Earlier Homo Sapiens shared the world with several human species, including Neanderthals. Neanderthals, known for their larger brains, robust bodies, and strong muscles, also had the necessary fine motor skills and intellect to create art. Many studies now suggest that Neanderthals had the cognitive abilities and tools to engage in artistic expression.

Archaeological Evidence

In recent studies, researchers discovered rock paintings and pearl shells in Spain dating back more than 65,000 years. These findings could potentially push the first known acts of human symbolic art beyond the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe. The researchers argue that these works of art would precede the arrival of Homo sapiens and that therefore someone else must have made them.

Excavations in the Cueva de los Aviones, a cave in southeastern Spain, revealed more than 12 examples of rock paintings, as well as perforated pearls and pigments dating back at least 115,000 years. These findings make the Cueva de los Aviones the oldest site with objects of personal ornament known so far around the world.

Neanderthals: Beyond Primitive Brutes

Neanderthals have a complex history. In 1856, workers at a limestone quarry in the Neander Valley, Germany, found bones that initially seemed to belong to a deformed human being. However, scientists soon realized that this individual, with thick eyebrows and a wide chest, belonged to a new species of hominid: Homo neanderthalensis.

For a long time, Neanderthals were considered stronger and less intelligent, with even one scientist suggesting that they should be classified as Homo stupidus. However, starting from the 1950s, researchers began to abandon these stereotypes and instead recognized that Neanderthals were capable of burying their dead, making stone tools, and using medicinal plants. Genetic tests also revealed that Neandertals and humans crossed paths, and about two percent of European and Asian DNA can be traced back to Neandertals.

Neanderthal Art: A Reality?

Yet, some researchers were hesitant to claim that Neanderthals could engage in symbolic art. Early evidence suggested that the first European art had only flourished when Homo sapiens arrived on the continent between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. However, subsequent studies began to refute this belief. In France, scientists found jewelry made by Neanderthals dating back 43,000 years. In a cave in Spain, an ancient form of charcoal was found next to rock paintings.

Despite these findings, none of these discoveries seemed to precede the arrival of Homo sapiens. Therefore, the possibility remained that Neanderthals were merely imitating their new, more cultured neighbors. However, the recent discoveries in the Cueva de los Aviones and the associated dating techniques suggest a different narrative.

Researchers, such as Andy W. G. Pike and Dirk Hoffmann, began to explore how they could prove that Neanderthals were artists. Hoffmann's work involves measuring the relative amounts of uranium and thorium in minerals to date the paintings on rocks. This method requires taking small samples, typically no bigger than a grain of rice.

These findings challenge previous beliefs and open the door to new interpretations of Neanderthal capabilities. Art and symbolism could have developed much earlier than previously thought, challenging our understanding of human evolution and the cultural landscape of prehistoric times.

Conclusion: The evidence suggests that Neanderthals indeed possessed the cognitive and physical abilities to create art. The recent discoveries in Spain and the dating techniques employed by researchers offer compelling evidence that Neanderthals could be considered some of the earliest artists in human history.