Scientists examining the cave’s interior.
About 40,000 to 400,000 years ago, this subspecies of archaic humans roamed Europe and Asia.
In fact, most people today have some small percentage ofNeanderthal DNA.
Scientists examining the cave’s interior. (Photo: Kristina Thomsen,CC BY 4.0)
The cave in question was unknown until 1846.
At that time, excavations in preparation for railroad expansion uncovered the mouth of the cave.
During this period, the Loire often flooded, bringing sediment into the cave.
A view of the cave showing the location of engravings. (Photo:Marquet et al.)
Inside the cave are impressions and lines drawn into the rock.
The team carefully mapped these for comparison to Neanderthal engravings from other sites.
They also identified other marks made by the likes of cave bears and 19th-century humans.
Some examples of carvings inside the cave. (Photo:Marquet et al.)
All of the signs indicated that the engravings were done slowly and deliberately by hand.
This could be engraved with hands or tools.
The ancient engravers likely used tools as well as their hands.
Some examples of carvings inside the cave. (Photo:Marquet et al.)
In a nearby cavern, the research team tested making their own engravings using similar tools.
While a direct link with the engravings is not yet found, there is a strong connection.
But how do we know Neanderthals were the ones to wield these tools and press their marks?
This makes these marks the earliest known Neanderthal engravings, surpassing those discovered inGibraltarwhich date to 39,000 years ago.
A view of the cave showing the location of engravings.
(Photo:Marquet et al.)
They were made before homo sapiens arrived in that part of France.
Some examples of carvings inside the cave.
(Photo:Marquet et al.)
