Cave Paintings Show Neanderthals Were Artists
2021-08-16
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1A new study suggests that Neanderthals made art far earlier than once believed, perhaps some 20,000 years before the appearance of modern humans in Europe.
2The recent study, which appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests Neanderthals used a red ochre pigment, a kind of red, earthy paint, to make cave art some 65,000 years ago.
3Modern humans did not exist in Europe at the time the cave images were made.
4The paintings in the Caves of Ardales, near Málaga in southern Spain, add to increasing evidence that Neanderthals, who died off about 40,000 years ago, were more complex than is commonly believed.
5Pigments - natural coloring materials - were made in the caves at different times up to 15,000 and 20,000 years apart, the study found.
6Earlier research had suggested that the pigments were the result of natural processes rather than being man-made.
7Joāo Zilhāo was one of the authors of the study.
8Zilhāo said dating methods showed that ochre had been spat by Neanderthals onto stalagmites, possibly as part of a ritual.
9Stalagmites are pointed pieces of rock that stick up from the floor of a cave.
10Zilhāo suggested that the study helps to change our opinions, or attitudes, about Neanderthals.
11"They were closer to humans. Recent research has shown they liked objects, they mated with humans and now we can show that they painted caves like us," he said.
12Wall paintings made by early modern humans, such as those found in the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave of France, are more than 30,000 years old.
13I'm John Russell.
1A new study suggests that Neanderthals made art far earlier than once believed, perhaps some 20,000 years before the appearance of modern humans in Europe. 2The recent study, which appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests Neanderthals used a red ochre pigment, a kind of red, earthy paint, to make cave art some 65,000 years ago. 3Modern humans did not exist in Europe at the time the cave images were made. 4The paintings in the Caves of Ardales, near Málaga in southern Spain, add to increasing evidence that Neanderthals, who died off about 40,000 years ago, were more complex than is commonly believed. 5Pigments - natural coloring materials - were made in the caves at different times up to 15,000 and 20,000 years apart, the study found. Earlier research had suggested that the pigments were the result of natural processes rather than being man-made. 6Joāo Zilhāo was one of the authors of the study. Zilhāo said dating methods showed that ochre had been spat by Neanderthals onto stalagmites, possibly as part of a ritual. 7Stalagmites are pointed pieces of rock that stick up from the floor of a cave. 8Zilhāo suggested that the study helps to change our opinions, or attitudes, about Neanderthals. 9"They were closer to humans. Recent research has shown they liked objects, they mated with humans and now we can show that they painted caves like us," he said. 10Wall paintings made by early modern humans, such as those found in the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave of France, are more than 30,000 years old. 11I'm John Russell. 12Graham Keeley reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 13_______________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15spit - v. to force (something, such as food or liquid) from your mouth 16ritual - n. a formal ceremony or series of acts that is always performed in the same way