Signs In Axarquia’s Stone

The caves of El Cantal are rewriting what we cognize astir nan first humans to time off their people successful Europe.

What started earlier this twelvemonth arsenic talk of “the oldest handprints successful nan Mediterranean” has now been confirmed arsenic thing overmuch bigger: nan earliest strategy of schematic connection utilized by precocious Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens.

A investigation squad led by archaeologist Pedro Cantalejo has spent nan past 10 months analysing 144 walls wrong nan cave system. What they’ve recovered is not random smears of pigment, but a system connection of dots, lines, stains, curved strokes, and manus impressions. These are symbols designed to guideline groups done nan deep, acheronian passages.

The marks, made pinch reddish ochre, charcoal, and clay, spell backmost much than 40,000 years, according to nan research. Explorers equipped pinch flickering torches and fat-fuelled lamps returned to nan aforesaid galleries again and again, leaving coded reminders connected nan walls. Later groups added their ain touches, including animal figures, blending this symbolic connection pinch early cave art.

For researchers, nan find links Rincon’s caves pinch others successful Antequera and beyond, placing Axarquia firmly connected Europe’s prehistoric map. It besides underscores nan request for continued conservation and study. “These caves are not conscionable heritage, they’re portion of our communicative arsenic humans,” Francisco Salado, politician of Rincon de la Victoria, said.

What erstwhile looked for illustration elemental marks is now understood arsenic nan first whispers of written communication.

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