Oldest Neanderthal rock art found in France

In the cave of La Roche-Cotard in the center of the Loire Valley in France, they found drawings that may be about 75 thousand years old. Perhaps these are the oldest examples of rock art. Study this was published in Plos One magazine.

Archaeologists have no doubt that they were left by the Neanderthals. Although it is generally accepted that the visual arts appeared only at the time of Homo sapiens, some scientists insist that it existed even earlier - in the period of even more ancient human ancestors. And this French discovery only confirms their theory.

1 / 0

Image: Universita degli Studi di Ferrara

2 / 0

Image: Universita degli Studi di Ferrara

3 / 0

Image: Universita degli Studi di Ferrara

4 / 0

Image: Universita degli Studi di Ferrara

An analysis of the shape and intervals of the drawings confirmed their "human" origin. In addition, with the help optical dating scientists have found that the cave was abandoned about 57 thousand years ago - long before the appearance of Homo sapiens in this region.

The images themselves appeared at all 75 thousand years ago. And the tools found in the cave belong to the Mousterian culture, which is associated with the late Neanderthals. That is, absolutely everything indicates that it was their doing.

But scientists have not yet determined the meaning of the rock paintings. They expect to solve this mystery in the course of further explorations in this French cave.