A Prehistoric Neanderthal Possibly Depicted Fingertip Impression on Discovered Stone Artifact While Creating a Facial Design
A red ochre-stained pebble, discovered at the San Lázaro rock shelter in central Spain, may represent one of the earliest examples of Neanderthal symbolic behavior. The researchers who analyzed the artifact suggest it could be an early human facial symbolization, possibly created due to pareidolia, a psychological phenomenon where the human mind tends to perceive patterns, especially faces, in inanimate objects.
The pebble, dated around 43,000 years old, was found alongside Neanderthal tools and shows no signs of having been used as a tool. Instead, it appears that the red ochre dot at its center was intentionally applied with a fingertip soaked in pigment, leaving a complete Neanderthal fingerprint behind. This deliberate placement suggests the pebble was viewed as a non-utilitarian item, holding symbolic rather than functional value.
Three natural cupules arranged in a symmetrical pattern on the pebble could resemble a face, with the red ochre dot possibly representing a nose or mouth, while the cupules might resemble eyes and a mouth. The study authors propose that this pebble could be among the oldest known abstractions of a human face in prehistory.
Notably, a partial Neanderthal fingerprint was previously discovered in ancient resin at a site in Königsaue, Germany, but the red ochre-stained pebble from San Lázaro stands out for its completeness and intentional placement. The researchers linked the pebble's origin to the nearby Eresma river, but it does not show evidence of having been used as a tool, lending credence to its symbolic significance.
The discovery contributes to the debate about Neanderthal cognitive abilities by suggesting that they shared with modern humans the capacity for abstraction and the tendency to see faces in inanimate objects—a phenomenon known as pareidolia. The study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences underscores the sophisticated cognitive and symbolic abilities of Neanderthals, challenging previous views that symbolic behavior was exclusive to Homo sapiens. While the interpretation is speculative, the intention behind the pebble's creation remains intriguing and warrants further investigation.
- The discovery of the red ochre-stained pebble at San Lázaro rock shelter could signify an early example of Neanderthal engagement in science, specifically environmental-science, considering its link to the Eresma river.
- The research on this Neanderthal artifact delves into the realm of science and education-and-self-development, challenging preconceived notions about Neanderthal cognitive abilities.
- The pebble's potential representation of a human face falls under the domain of health-and-wellness and lifestyle, as it demonstrates an early interest in such symbolic expressions related to the human form.
- The intentionally applied red ochre dot on the pebble could be a testament to Neanderthal expertise in fitness-and-exercise, showcasing their ability to create and manipulate pigment.
- The red ochre-stained pebble's discovery also has implications in the field of general-news, sparking debate about the capacity for symbolic behavior in Neanderthals.
- The scrutiny of this artifact from the perspective of space-and-astronomy can be extended, as the concept of pareidolia, where the mind perceives patterns, can be likened to our quest for patterns in the universe to understand its mysteries.
