Mysterious Fossils Suggest Neanderthals Were Capable of Abstract Thought (www.sciencealert.com)
from fossilesque@mander.xyz to archaeology@mander.xyz on 09 Dec 10:02
https://mander.xyz/post/21710305

#archaeology

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jordanlund@lemmy.world on 09 Dec 10:41 next collapse

Yesterday I learned about Bruniquel Cave in France.

Neanderthals broke off stalagmites and stalactites and used them to create a structure in a cave almost 200,000 years ago.

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/ac875c4d-4cae-46ca-a9b3-21697c181f2d.jpeg">

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruniquel_Cave

“The artificial ring structures made of broken stalagmites now have been dated by uranium series dating as 176.5 (±2.1) thousand years old, with 2σ uncertainties (95.5% probability). There are two annular structures, one 6.7 by 4.5 metres (ellipse major/minor axes), and the other 2.2 by 2.1 metres (ellipse major/minor axes), composed of one to four aligned layers of stalagmites, with some small pieces placed inside the layers to support them. Some stalagmites were placed vertically against the rings, possibly as reinforcement. There are also four stacks of stalagmites measuring between 0.55 and 2.60 metres in diameter, two of which were inside the large ring and two outside it. Approximately 400 stalagmite pieces (called “speleofacts” by the researchers) were used in the construction of the structure, with a total length of 112.4 metres and weight of approximately 2.2 tons.”

grrgyle@slrpnk.net on 09 Dec 21:55 next collapse

Not sure if Wikipedia article excludes pictures intentionally, but they can be found under references here. For example:

<img alt="person standing in large well lit cave in the centre of a circle of broken stalagmites" src="https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/16997688-a10f-4c36-9168-33c1bdcf835f.webp">

[deleted] on 10 Dec 08:37 collapse

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jordanlund@lemmy.world on 10 Dec 08:47 collapse

I think you missed attaching the pic, but I’d love to see it!

Vampire@hexbear.net on 09 Dec 11:21 next collapse

They had larger brains than homo sapiens, and they could make woven cordage

Squorlple@lemmy.world on 09 Dec 11:39 next collapse

That means these fossilized sea creatures were most likely collectibles, deliberately gathered by the ancient hominins for some purpose besides essential utility.

Funko Pop strikes again. Poor caveman Grog never was able to track down that ultra rare ammonite to complete his collection

jordanlund@lemmy.world on 10 Dec 08:48 collapse

Gotta catch 'em all!

Butterbee@beehaw.org on 09 Dec 16:40 collapse

This feels like a “water is wet” discovery but it’s still great to see more evidence of prehistoric cultures since we know very little of how ancient humans thought and what they valued.