Cave art suggests Neandertals were ancient humans’ mental equals
Newly dated rock drawings and shell ornaments predate Homo sapiens in Europe by at least 20,000 years
![cave art](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/022118_bb_neadertal_feat.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
ARTISTIC SURPRISE Red horizontal and vertical lines painted on the walls of a Spanish cave date to at least 64,800 years ago, a new study finds. Since Homo sapiens had not reached Europe at that time, Neandertals must have created this art, researchers propose. The animal-shaped figure, right, was not dated and its makers remain unknown.
© P. Saura