Bone reinforces that Neanderthals had artistic traditions – News

A small piece of bone found during excavations in northern Germany has reinforced the idea that Neanderthals, an offshoot of the human race that disappeared about 40,000 years ago, had their own artistic traditions. It’s about two inches long and four inches wide, and has ten lines engraved on one side, six of which form five chevrons—accurately excluding accidental gestures.

This drawing “probably symbolizes something that had meaning for Neanderthals as a group,” archaeologist at the Heritage Office in Lower Saxony, Dr Dirk Lieder, told AFP.

Discoveries related to Neanderthals have increased in recent years, as has curiosity about this type of “cousin” of modern humans.

In an article accompanying the study, British paleoanthropologist Sylvia Bello recalls that Neanderthals knew how to make tools with bones to treat animal skins and could perform funeral rites, but very few art forms have been attributed to them. In the current state, “everything points to advanced knowledge and great skill in orthopedics.”

The study authors admit they don’t understand the meaning of the recording, “but are convinced that it conveys an idea, a story, or something that makes sense to a group.”