Spanish caves produce 43,000-year-old Neanderthal fingerprints

Granite pebbles found in Spanish rock shelters reveal what researchers believe is one of the oldest human fingerprints ever, preserved in red ocher pigment used by Neanderthals 43,000 years ago.

The discovery of the San Lázaro rock shelter near Segovia challenges our understanding of early human symbolic behavior and is a rare glimpse into the cognitive world of our extinct cousin.

Fingerprints cannot be seen with naked eyes. Spanish forensic experts using multispectral imaging detected skin glass patterns in small red dots hidden on the surface of pebbles, revealing the characteristics of the ridge patterns and fine nodes of human fingerprints.

Handsome canvas

What makes this discovery particularly attractive is the obvious intention behind object creation. The pebbles are about 8 inches long and transported from the nearby Eresma River to the cave ruins – this is a deliberate act, as during the Musta Rich period there was no natural geological process that could move it there.

The stone’s surface has three natural cups or small bowl-shaped depressions and is described by researchers as a pattern that is almost completely symmetrical. Statistical analysis shows that the location of the red ocher point (the concentrated position among these three depressions) is only 0.31% probability.

Can this arrangement represent a deeper thing? The team suggests that pebbles may show “face pareidolia” – humans tend to see the faces of inanimate objects. These three cups can represent two eyes and a mouth, while the ocher dot strategically places facial expressions.

Advanced forensic technology unlocks ancient secrets

The breakthrough was through a collaboration between archaeologists and the Spanish National Police Forensic Laboratory. Using the same technique in modern criminal investigations, experts have discovered how the reactions of chemical components in ochers vary at various light wavelengths, gradually revealing fingerprint patterns.

Forensic analysis identified 13 feature points in the print, including ridge ends, bifurcations and fusions. The ridge width averaged 0.48 mm, consistent with the fingerprint of adult males. 14 ridges were counted in a 25 m2 mm area, providing enough detail for forensic comparisons.

Beyond the accidental mark

Researchers ruled out the possibility of accidental contact of fingerprints during the use of the tool. Unlike the other 23 granite pebbles found at the same archaeological level (all showing clear signs of use like Hamstein) – this specimen showed no evidence of functional use.

The absence of other ocher stains on the pebbles, coupled with the lack of ocher deposits elsewhere in the cave, suggests that the application of pigments is an singular, purposeful behavior rather than accidental marking in routine activities.

The cognitive complexity of our ancient relatives

This finding adds to increasing evidence of Neanderthal symbolic behavior in Europe. From painted cave walls in Spain to eagle claw jewelry in Croatia, archaeological discoveries increasingly show that symbolic thinking is not unique to modern humans.

What sets the San Lazaro pebbles apart is its obvious representative quality. If the assumption of the facial assumption proves to be correct, the object will represent one of the earliest known human facial abstractions before history – tens of thousands of years with similar symbolic objects.

Fingerprint analysis also reveals the technical complexity of how to apply Ocher. Instead of randomly applying pigments, Neanderthals deliberately pressed their fingers into a wet ocher, creating a controlled application to preserve its unique skin-refining pattern.

The Last Neanderthal

The San Lázaro ruins have special significance because it represents one of the last strongholds of the Neanderthals. The occupation dates back 44,000 to 41,000 years ago, and took place in the last few thousand years of Iberia, namely, the arrival of modern humans in central Spain for thousands of years.

This temporal isolation eliminates any possibility of cultural exchange with gay wise men, making symbolic behavior originate entirely from Neanderthals. The discovery was located in the Eresma River Valley, during which several Neanderthal settlements gathered during this period, indicating the ultimate population thriving.

Why did this particular pebbles attract Neanderthal attention 40,000 years ago? The study shows that this may be the face shape appearance of the stone triggers recognition, thus leading to its selection, transportation and conversion into symbolic objects by adding ocher dots.

With the development of multispectral imaging technology, how many other ancient fingerprints may be hidden? The discovery of San Lazaro shows that our ancestors left more traces than they had previously thought – we only need the right tools to see them.