Spanish cave art was made by Neanderthals, study confirms

[brooklynite]

The Guardian

Neanderthals, long perceived to have been unsophisticated and brutish, really did paint stalagmites in a Spanish cave more than 60,000 years ago, according to a study published on Monday.

The issue had roiled the world of paleoarchaeology ever since the publication of a 2018 paper attributing red ocher pigment found on the stalagmitic dome of Cueva de Ardales to our extinct “cousin” species.

The dating suggested the art was at least 64,800 years old, made at a time when modern humans did not inhabit the continent.

But the finding was contentious, and “a scientific article said that perhaps these pigments were a natural thing”, a result of iron oxide flow, Francesco d’Errico, co-author of a new paper in the journal PNAS, told AFP.

A new analysis revealed the composition and placement of the pigments were not consistent with natural processes – rather, the pigments were applied through splattering and blowing.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Van Gogh genes

Cold winter nights

[WarGamer]

2. It's a long misconception.

Neanderthal were probably MORE intelligent than H.sapien

Problem was, they were a more "high maintenance" race and died off

Bigger, stronger, more intelligent... and ultimately more fragile.

There is a lot of modern research re: Neanderthal

Svante Pääbo is the Neanderthal guru, wrote a great book, too and did a great Ted talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/svante_paabo_dna_clues_to_our_inner_neanderthal/transcript

[nolabear]

3. Thanks! I've got a huge percentage of Neanderthal genes.

Above something like 93% of the populace. Artistic? Why yes. Yes I am.

[malaise]

4. LOL