In the heart of central Spain, a remarkable discovery has the potential to reshape our understanding of Neanderthals and their place in human history. Researchers have uncovered a small pebble bearing a human fingerprint, believed to be around 43,000 years old, in the San Lázaro rock shelter in Segovia. This seemingly unassuming artifact is providing invaluable insights into the cognitive abilities and symbolic practices of Neanderthals, challenging long-held assumptions about their capabilities.

The Discovery

The pebble was discovered in July 2022, buried beneath 1.5 meters of sediment in the San Lázaro rock shelter, a site known to have been occupied by Neanderthals. María de Andrés Herrero, a professor of prehistory at the Complutense University of Madrid and co-author of the study, recalls the moment of discovery vividly. "When we saw (the pebble) the first time ... we were looking at the stone, all the team and students, and we were like ‘Uh, it looks like a face,’” she said. The rock, marked with a red dot, immediately intrigued the researchers, who suspected it might hold something more than just a casual mark.

The Role of Forensic Experts

To unlock the secrets of the pebble, Herrero and her team turned to an unlikely ally: forensic experts from Madrid’s forensic police corps. These experts, accustomed to analyzing fingerprints in modern crime scenes, were initially skeptical about the feasibility of identifying a fingerprint from such an ancient artifact. "They are used to identifying fingerprints that are very recent, from 2 days, 1 week, 1 month. But 43,000 years ago — it was very weird and very difficult for them,” Herrero explained.

Using advanced forensic techniques and multispectral analysis, the experts were able to discern a fingerprint within the red dot. This marked the first time such techniques had been used to identify a Neanderthal fingerprint. The forensic team created a special camera to capture the evidence, and their analysis confirmed that the mark was indeed a human fingerprint, likely belonging to an adult male Neanderthal.

The Significance of the Find

The discovery of the fingerprint on the pebble is groundbreaking. According to Paul Pettitt, a professor of paleolithic archaeology at Durham University in the United Kingdom, the artifact could be the oldest complete hominin fingerprint ever found. Another, possibly older print was discovered in Königsaue, Germany, in 1963, but that one is a partial fingerprint. The San Lázaro fingerprint is also notable for being the oldest associated with a pigment, according to the study.

The researchers used statistical modeling to determine that the mark on the pebble was not random but intentionally placed. The pebble, made of quartz-rich granite, was marked with ocher, a clay pigment, suggesting that the Neanderthals were not only capable of creating symbolic art but also had the cognitive ability to use pigments for such purposes.

Symbolic Art and Neanderthal Culture

The pebble's unique characteristics suggest it might be a piece of "portable art" with symbolic significance. One theory is that the hollows on the rock resemble parts of a face—eyes, mouth, and chin—with the red dot possibly representing a nose. If this interpretation is correct, the pebble marking would be a visual sign with a symbolic purpose, indicating that Neanderthals had the capacity for symbolic thought and artistic expression.

This discovery adds to a growing body of evidence that Neanderthals were more like modern humans than previously believed. Recent findings, including cave markings and paintings, have challenged the notion that Neanderthals were cognitively inferior to Homo sapiens. Instead, they appear to have had a rich visual culture, using pigments to leave marks of their bodies on cave walls and portable objects.

Bridging the Gap Between Neanderthals and Modern Humans

The San Lázaro pebble is a testament to the Neanderthals' ability to recognize patterns and project their thoughts onto objects, much like modern humans. Herrero believes this discovery demonstrates that the "thin line" separating Neanderthals from modern humans is becoming increasingly blurred. "They were able to recognize faces in objects, as you and I are able to recognize a lion in the clouds," she said.

Pettitt echoes this sentiment, suggesting that the findings fit with "emerging evidence that the Neanderthal imagination was experimenting with the human form and with recognition and extension of that form within and onto objects in their natural world."

Future Research and Collaboration

The research team is now planning to search for more "invisible artifacts" to help interpret the past. The collaboration with forensic experts is expected to continue, as these specialists can uncover information not visible to the naked eye. Herrero emphasizes the importance of integrating forensic technologies into archaeology and vice versa, stating that this collaboration "is opening a new window to check our past."

The discovery of the 43,000-year-old fingerprint on the San Lázaro pebble is a remarkable achievement that sheds new light on Neanderthal capabilities. This artifact, with its intentional markings and symbolic potential, challenges long-held assumptions about Neanderthal cognitive abilities and their capacity for symbolic art. As researchers continue to explore the intersection of archaeology and forensic science, we can expect to uncover more hidden treasures that will further bridge the gap between Neanderthals and modern humans. The San Lázaro pebble is not just a relic of the past; it is a powerful reminder of the shared humanity that connects us all.