Did Humans Make These Ancient Cave Paintings? | National Geographic

Summary

Researchers in Asturias, Spain, have discovered ancient calcite deposits on cave art, potentially dating it to over 41,000 years ago. This pushes back the timeline of Europe's oldest art and raises questions about whether it was created by Neanderthals or early modern humans. The findings challenge previous assumptions about the origins of symbolic behavior and art, suggesting that Europe, not Africa, may have been the birthplace of early artistic expression. The discovery also prompts speculation about the role of art in social cohesion and the possible artistic capabilities of Neanderthals.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ The script discusses the discovery of small calcite deposits on cave art in Asturias, Spain, which can be dated to determine the age of the paintings.
• 🕰️ Art in Spain has been dated to be 15,000 years older than previously thought, making it the oldest art in Europe, at least 41,000 years old.
• 🤔 There is uncertainty about whether the art was created by Neanderthals or the earliest modern humans to arrive in Europe.
• 🌏 Modern humans evolved around 200,000 years ago in Africa but did not start expressing symbolic thoughts until around 100,000 years ago.
• 🎨 The earliest known paintings are in Europe, raising questions about why painting began there and not in Africa where modern humans originated.
• 🤝 One theory suggests that modern humans may have needed to reorganize into different social structures upon arrival in Europe to compete with Neanderthals for resources.
• 🙏 The script mentions the possibility that new religious practices requiring cave painting could have been a means of maintaining social cohesion.
• 🗣️ There is interest in determining if human symbolic behavior coincides with the development of language or if it dates back to the earliest anatomically modern humans.
• 👥 The script also raises the question of whether Neanderthals could have produced art, with the dating of the paintings potentially providing evidence for this.
• 📰 The findings are considered 'big news' as they challenge previous dismissals of Neanderthals as symbolic individuals and suggest they may have used pigments for body adornment.
• 🎭 The script concludes by suggesting that if Neanderthals used pigments for makeup, it wouldn't be surprising to find they also painted caves.

Q & A

What is the significance of the small calcite deposits found on top of cave art in Asturias?

The calcite deposits are significant because they can be dated to determine the age of the cave paintings, providing insights into the timeline of ancient art.

How old is the oldest art found in Europe?

The oldest art discovered in Europe dates back at least 41,000 years, which is significantly older than previously thought.

What is the uncertainty regarding the creators of the oldest European art?

There is uncertainty whether the art was created by Neanderthals or by the earliest modern humans to arrive in Europe, as the dating does not specify the artist.

When did modern humans evolve, and when did they start expressing symbolic thoughts?

Modern humans evolved around 200,000 years ago in Africa, but they did not start using symbolic expressions until about 100,000 years ago.

Why is it intriguing that the earliest paintings were found in Europe rather than Africa?

It is intriguing because modern humans had been around for a long time in Africa before they started creating art, suggesting a unique cultural development in Europe.

What social factors might have influenced the development of cave painting in Europe?

The presence of Neanderthals in Europe at the time of the arrival of modern humans may have forced them to reorganize into different social structures, possibly leading to new religious practices and the need for cave painting to maintain social cohesion.

What is the relationship between symbolic behavior and language in human evolution?

Researchers are interested in whether symbolic behavior coincides with the development of language or if it dates back to the point when humans began to physically resemble modern humans.

Are there any indications that Neanderthals might have been capable of creating art?

Evidence of Neanderthal use of pigments for body adornment suggests that they might have also been capable of painting caves, although this is still under investigation.

What does the dating of the cave paintings aim to determine?

The dating aims to determine whether the paintings were made by modern humans or by Neanderthals, providing insights into the origins of artistic expression.

Why is the discovery of the cave paintings in Spain considered 'big news'?

The discovery is significant because it challenges previous assumptions about Neanderthals' capacity for symbolic thought and suggests they may have been capable of creating art.

What role might cave paintings have played in the social structures of early humans?

Cave paintings might have served as a means of maintaining social cohesion, possibly through the expression of shared religious or cultural beliefs.