Neanderthal Fingerprint Found on 115000-Year-Old Pebble

In an interview with the BBC's Newsday, Prof de Andrés-Herrero from the University of Complutense in Madrid said excavation at the shelter began five years ago and in 2022 they found the stone

An interview with Prof. Paloma de Andrés-Herrero from the University of Complutense in Madrid has revealed remarkable details about a Paleolithic site in Spain, where archaeologists have uncovered a 60,000-year-old footprint, purposely stained red with ochre.

The footprint, imprinted on a pebble and belonging to a male Neanderthal, was discovered at the El Sidrón Palaeolithic site in northern Spain.

The new findings have been published in the journal Frontiers in Culture and Science.

The Complutense University in Madrid's team has been working at the shelter since 2017, excavating layers of sediment that accumulated over 120,000 years.

In 2022, at a depth of 1.5m (5 feet), they encountered a pale grey limestone pebble, measuring 6.7cm in length and 5cm in width, with a red dot in the centre.

Initially, the researchers weren't sure what the dot was made of or its purpose.

To confirm the pigment and identify any traces on the pebble, the team contacted Spain's Central Unit for Support to Forensic Science at the National Police.

Their analysis, using multi-spectral imaging techniques, revealed the presence of a fingerprint in the red ochre on the pebble.

Further analysis of the print's size and shape suggested it was left by a male adult.

However, archaeologist David Álvarez Alonso, from the Complutense University in Madrid and co-author of the study, noted the difficulty in comparing the print to other Neanderthal references, making it challenging to say for certain.

The scientists also observed small red ochre stains on the surrounding sediment, indicating that the Neanderthals were engaged in painting activities within the shelter.

This discovery adds to the limited evidence of Neanderthal symbolic behaviour, which usually includes body decoration with pigments and simple geometrical engravings.

At a news conference updating the public on the scientific development, Spanish official Gonzalo Santonja highlighted the pebble as the oldest portable object to be painted in the European continent and the only object of portable art painted by Neanderthals.

This discovery provides unique insights into the cognitive abilities and symbolic expression of Neanderthals, showcasing their advanced capabilities in manipulating pigments and creating art.output: A male Neanderthal's footprint, purposely stained red with ochre, has been discovered at the El Sidrón Palaeolithic site in northern Spain. The new findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Culture and Science, are remarkable for their preservation and the glimpse they offer into Neanderthal symbolic behavior.

The footprint, imprinted on a pale grey limestone pebble, was found at a depth of 1.5m (5 feet) in a layer of sediment dated to about 60,000 years old. The pebble, measuring 6.7cm in length and 5cm in width, had a red dot in the middle.

Initially, the researchers weren't sure what the dot was made of or its purpose. Once they confirmed it was pigment and contacted Spain's Central Unit for Support to Forensic Science at the National Police, their investigation led to an unexpected discovery.

This team's efforts were focused on identifying any traces that could be linked to the presence of Neanderthals in the Paleolithic site. Their analysis, using multi-spectral imaging techniques, revealed the presence of a fingerprint in the red ochre dot on the pebble.

The scientists also observed small red ochre stains on the surrounding sediment, indicating that the Neanderthals were engaged in painting activities within the shelter.

This discovery adds to the limited evidence of Neanderthal symbolic behavior, which usually includes body decoration with pigments and simple geometrical engravings.

The scientists noted the difficulty in comparing the print to other Neanderthal references, as there are none, making it difficult to say for certain.

However, analysis of the print's size and shape suggested it was left by a male adult.

Speaking from a news conference updating the public on the scientific development, Spanish official Gonzalo Santonja highlighted the pebble as the oldest portable object to be painted in the European continent and the only object of portable art painted by Neanderthals.

This discovery provides unique insights into the cognitive abilities and symbolic expression of Neanderthals, showcasing their advanced capabilities in manipulating pigments and creating art. It also attests to the enduring legacy of these early humans and their contributions to the cultural heritage of Europe.