Doubts about the authorship of Neanderthal art

2018/09/04 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Eboluzioa
• Paleontologia
• Arkeologia

Recently, using the uranium/thorium disintegration dating technique, it was concluded that the art of the three peninsular caves was performed by Neanderthals: In La Pasiega (Cantabria), Maltravieso (Cáceres) and Ardales (Málaga). However, a study now published questions these conclusions.

Archaeologist and geomymic Maxime Aubert directed this latest research and published his results in the Journal of Human Evolution. He has especially questioned two aspects: If the red remains found in the rocks generated by the Ardales spill are really works of art (which may have been created spontaneously), and if the microstratigraphic data of La Pasiega and Maltravieso are correct.

CENIEH archaeologist Joseba Ríos Garaizar also from the beginning seemed “surprising” the hypothesis that the Neanderthals made this art: “On the one hand, the context was strange to me. Only in these three caves. And on the other hand, the methodology used is not rigorous enough or do not explain it with sufficient rigor.”

Ríos avoids the confrontation between defenders and detractors and advocates a scientific debate. In fact, he does not question that Neanderthals might be able to create art, but, as he cautiously says, “the surprising hypothesis needs strong evidence.”