Ancient Neanderthal Fingerprint: Oldest Symbolic Object Found | JQJO

Spanish researchers have unearthed a 43,000-year-old pebble in Segovia bearing what forensic experts confirmed is a complete Neanderthal fingerprint, potentially the oldest ever found. The fingerprint, discovered using advanced imaging techniques, is imprinted within a red ochre dot on the pebble. The researchers believe the pebble, found near a riverbed and deliberately placed in a rock shelter, may be a symbolic object, possibly representing a face, suggesting Neanderthals possessed a capacity for symbolic art and were more sophisticated than previously thought. This discovery pushes the boundaries of our understanding of Neanderthal cognitive abilities.