Ancient Non-Human Art Reveals Revolutionary Secret
A groundbreaking discovery in Maltravieso Cave, Spain, reveals that Neanderthals, not Homo sapiens, may have been the first artists, with hand stencils dated to at least 66,710 years ago. Using uranium-thorium dating, researchers found these artworks to be far older than previously known examples, suggesting Neanderthals had advanced cognitive abilities. This challenges the perception of Neanderthals as unsophisticated and raises the possibility of cultural transmission to early modern humans, highlighting art as a shared heritage between species.