Neanderthal cave art found in Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar is the first known artform of its kind. This could suggest these ancient humanoids were more artistic, and less barbaric, than is commonly believed. Early members of our species lived alongside Neanderthals for thousands of years. Modern humans share between one and four percent of our DNA with Neanderthals. This finding provides evidence the ancient cousins to our own race expressed created cave art, just like our direct ancestors.
Griffith University researchers believe this finding represents conclusive proof that this ancient species was not as backward as many people imagine. Such art would suggest Neanderthals were capable of abstract expression. Some archaeologists believe the paintings were not created by Neanderthals, but rather by true humans.
Clive Finlayson of the Gibraltar Museum discovered the Neanderthal cave paintings, drawn on the floor off Gorham's Cave. A layer of clay lays on top of the painting, along with tools and evidence of fire. This evidence provides a minimum age for the artwork of at least 39,000 years old.
The Gibraltar Caves Project started in 1994, with the excavation of Ibex Cave, on the eastern side of the Rock of Gibraltar. Gorham's amd Vanguard Caves were studied in annual expeditions, starting in 1995.
"These sites were occupied by Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic from at least 90 thousand years ago until around 31 thousand years ago, making this site one of very late occupation. Deposits above those of Neanderthal occupation show evidence of more recent occupation by modern humans," Gibraltar Museum managers wrote on their Web site.
Neanderthals are known to have created knapped tools, using one stone to shape another, often flint, to create an item useful for hunting or food preparation. They may have also hunted small animals, like birds and rabbits, which were more challenging to hunt than larger, slower, game. They wore jewelry and buried their dead.
Francesco d'Errico of the University of Bordeaux in France wanted to know if these tools, or their construction, may have been responsible for accidentally creating the markings discovered by Finlayson. He used two varieties of chipping tools employed by Neanderthals, and a stand-in for the rock floor. In his experiments, it took more than 100 strokes to create similar markings to those seen in Gorham's Cave. The investigator also tried cutting meat with the tools, testing to see if a Neanderthal may have accidentally made the marks while preparing a meal, without success.
Study of the caves and their ancient inhabitants could assist researchers in measuring the climate present in ancient times.
