Neanderthals may have created the first known symbolic art as scientists discover world’s oldest human fingerprint

Archaeologists have uncovered what may be the world's oldest known human fingerprint, left by a Neanderthal approximately 43,000 years ago on a pebble in central Spain. The remarkable discovery can reshape our understanding of Neanderthal intelligence.

The world’s oldest fingerprints

The discovery was made at the San Lázaro rock shelter near Segovia, where researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid unearthed a quartz-rich granite pebble bearing a deliberate red ocher mark. The pigment, identified as iron oxide, not native to the cave, was applied with a human fingertip, leaving behind a clear whore pattern characteristic of a fingerprint.


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What does the fingerprint resemble?

The pebble itself features three natural indentations resembling eyes and a mouth. The red ocher mark aligns precisely where a nose would be, suggesting the Neanderthal artist may have perceived a face in the stone and enhanced it with pigment, a phenomenon known as pareidolia.

Forensic analyses, including multispectral imaging and scanning electron microscopy, confirmed the intentional placement of the pigment and the presence of a human fingerprint. Statistical modeling indicated a mere 0.31 percent chance that the red dot's alignment with the indentations occurred by coincidence, reinforcing the idea of deliberate artistic expression.

This finding adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting Neanderthals engaged in symbolic behavior.

Previous discoveries

Previous discoveries include engraved bones, modified talons, and cave paintings attributed to Neanderthals, challenging the notion that symbolic thought was exclusive to Homo sapiens.

However, interpretations of the pebble's significance vary among experts. Anthropologist Bruce Hardy noted that while the ocher application was intentional, "symbolism is in the eye of the beholder." Archaeologist Rebecca Wragg Sykes suggested the mark could represent a navel rather than a nose, cautioning against definitive conclusions about its meaning.

Despite differing opinions, the discovery underscores the complexity of Neanderthal cognition and their capacity for abstract thought. The pebble, likely transported from the nearby Eresma River, shows no signs of utilitarian use, indicating it may have served a symbolic or decorative purpose.