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September 4, 2014
CNRS
The first example of a rock engraving attributed to Neanderthals has
been discovered in Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar. Dated at over 39,000
years old, it consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into
rock. Its analysis calls into question the view that the production of
representational and abstract depictions on cave walls was a cultural
innovation introduced into Europe by modern humans. On the contrary,
the findings support the hypothesis that Neanderthals had a symbolic
material culture.
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First Neanderthal rock engraving found in Gibraltar: Abstract art older
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Credit: F. d'Errico [Click to enlarge image]
T
Entrance to Gorham's Cave (top), Gibraltar photograph (middle) and analysis of the
engraving (bottom).
he first example of a rock engraving attributed to Neanderthals has
been discovered in Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar, by an international team
bringing together prehistorians from the French Laboratory 'De la
Prhistoire l'Actuel: Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie' (PACEA --
CNRS/Universit Bordeaux/Ministre de la Culture et de la Communication),
and researchers from the UK and Spain. Dated at over 39,000 years old, it
consists of a deeply impressed cross-hatching carved into rock. Its analysis
calls into question the view that the production of representational and
abstract depictions on cave walls was a cultural innovation introduced into
Europe by modern humans.
On the contrary, the findings, published Sept. 1 in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
support the hypothesis that Neanderthals had a
symbolic material culture.
The production of representational and abstract
depictions on cave walls is seen as a key stage in
the development of human cultures. Until now, this
cultural innovation was considered to be a
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cultural innovation was considered to be a
characteristic feature of modern humans, who
colonized Europe around 40,000 years ago. It has
also frequently been used to suggest that there were
marked cognitive differences between modern
humans and the Neanderthals who preceded them,
and who did not express themselves in this way. The
recent discovery in Gorham's Cave changes the
picture.
It consists of an abstract engraving in the form of a deeply impressed cross-hatching
carved into the bedrock at the back of the cave. At the time it was identified it was
covered by a layer of sediment shown by radiocarbon dating to be 39,000 years old.
Since the engraving lies beneath this layer it is therefore older. This dating, together
with the presence of Mousterian* tools characteristic of Neanderthals in the sediments
covering the engraving, shows that it was made by Neanderthals, who still populated
the south of the Iberian peninsula at that time.
Researchers at the PACEA Laboratory (CNRS/Universit de Bordeaux/Ministre de la
Culture et de la Communication) undertook a microscopic analysis of the engraving,
produced a 3-D reconstruction of it, and carried out an experimental study, which
demonstrated its human origin. The work also showed that the engraved lines are not
the result of utilitarian activity, such as the cutting of meat or skins, but rather that of
repeatedly and intentionally passing a robust pointed lithic tool (a pointed tool made of
stone) into the rock to carve deep grooves. The lines were skilfully carved, and the
researchers calculated that between 188 and 317 strokes of the engraving tool were
necessary to achieve this result.
The discovery supports the view that graphic expression was not exclusive to modern
humans, and that some Neanderthal cultures produced abstract engravings, using
these to mark their living space.
The research was supported by an ERC grant.
*Mousterian culture was produced in Europe by Neanderthals during the Middle
Paleolithic (300,000 to 39,000 years ago).
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by CNRS. Note: Materials may be
edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
1. J. Rodriguez-Vidal, F. d'Errico, F. Giles Pacheco, R. Blasco, J. Rosell, R. P.
Jennings, A. Queffelec, G. Finlayson, D. A. Fa, J. M. Gutierrez Lopez, J. S.
Carrion, J. J. Negro, S. Finlayson, L. M. Caceres, M. A. Bernal, S. Fernandez
Jimenez, C. Finlayson. A rock engraving made by Neanderthals in Gibraltar.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014; DOI:
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CNRS. "First Neanderthal rock engraving found in Gibraltar: Abstract art older than
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<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140904084506.htm>.
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