Neanderthal Fossils Indicate Abstract Thinking Abilities
A study of fossils found in Spain's Prado Vargas Cave suggests Neanderthals were capable of abstract thought, as they collected marine fossils with no practical use, indicating a behavior developed independently of Homo sapiens. The fossils, dated to 39,800–54,600 years ago, may have served ornamental, cultural, or barter purposes, or even as toys, highlighting Neanderthals' cognitive abilities and challenging previous assumptions about their intellectual capacity.