Neanderthal 'artwork' found in Gibraltar cave

[seeder]

An engraving found at a cave in Gibraltar may be the most compelling evidence yet for Neanderthal art.

The pattern, which bears a passing resemblance to the grid for a game of noughts and crosses, was inscribed on a rock at the back of Gorham's Cave.

Mounting evidence suggests Neanderthals were not the brutes they were characterised as decades ago.

But art, a high expression of abstract thought, was long considered to be the exclusive preserve of our own species.

The scattered candidates for artistic expression by Neanderthals have not met with universal acceptance.

However, the geometric pattern identified in Gibraltar, on the southern tip of Europe, was uncovered beneath undisturbed sediments that have also yielded Neanderthal tools.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28967746

[Timmeh]

Interesting. It would be nice to have dates, those things are handy.

[seeder]

Interesting. It would be nice to have dates, those things are handy.

This link suggests:

"The markings were already known to experts, but had been attributed to modern humans who arrived in Western Europe around 40,000 years ago".

The pattern was overlaid by undisturbed rocks in which Neanderthal artefacts had been discovered before, indicating the ‘art’ is older.

Archaeologists think the markings are 39,000 older than the other artefacts.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2739961/Were-Neanderthals-ARTISTS-Rock-engraving-proof-ancient-cousins-intelligent-creative-experts-claim.html#ixzz3C99aKuPX

[Nat Turner]

Some researchers said

"the artifacts may not have been made by Neanderthals

but by modern humans."

Until the truth of that be known,

it is too soon to re write human history,

However 2001 in South Africa,

at a site called Blombos Cave,

is found 70,000 year old writing and art on

"two pieces of ochre rock decorated with geometric patterns."

The patterns could in no way be considered to be accidental

or anything other than deliberate.

Maybe the re write should have already began.

http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/1270/3256/original.jpg

Full article

http://www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SU/caveart.php

[seeder]

Some researchers said

"the artifacts may not have been made by Neanderthals

but by modern humans."

Until the truth of that be known,

it is too soon to re write human history,

However 2001 in South Africa,

at a site called Blombos Cave,

is found 70,000 year old writing and art on

"two pieces of ochre rock decorated with geometric patterns."

The patterns could in no way be considered to be accidental

or anything other than deliberate.

Maybe the re write should have already began.

http://a.disquscdn.c...56/original.jpg

Full article

http://www.accessexc.../SU/caveart.php

Interesting link, thanks for that, did you read the wiki on it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blombos_Cave

[jmccr8]

Hi Seeder,

There are other examples of Neandertal art that have been discovered in the last few years,and there is some speculation that some art accredited to H.s.s. may have been created by Neandertals.For now I will add this link and will look for some of the others that I have if you are interested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3256228.stm

This artifact is from a later time although not much later and is an interesting and creative piece of work.

jmccr8