The fingerprint was found on a river granite rock in a cave in Spain, dating to the late phase of the Neanderthal presence in the Iberian Peninsula. Neanderthals became extinct around 40 years ago, but they inhabited Europe for hundreds of thousands of years before the arrival of Homo sapiens.
In the San Lázaro cave in Segovia, central Spain, researchers have discovered a fingerprint that is approximately 43 years old – the oldest known to date. This remarkable imprint was left by a Neanderthal – the extinct and closest ancestor of humans – using red ochre.
The fingerprint was found in a river granite rock, the age of which corresponds to the late phase of the Neanderthal presence in the Iberian Peninsula. Neanderthals became extinct around 40 years ago, but they inhabited Europe for hundreds of thousands of years before the arrival of Homo sapiens.
This ochre-stained fingerprint on a rock has sparked new thinking about the symbolic abilities of Neanderthals. Scientists from the Complutense University of Madrid and their collaborators believe it is compelling evidence of symbolic cognition – the ability to express meaning through symbols, signs and images.
The rock has three pits – two symmetrical and one irregular – surrounding a central red dot. Their arrangement resembles a human face. Although the face is not immediately recognizable, researchers believe there are enough elements to indicate purpose and symbolism.
This imprint was analyzed using advanced methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and multispectral spectroscopy. The results confirmed that it was a fingerprint, possibly a thumb or index finger, that had left a mark with liquid ochre.
The stone, measuring 21.4 by 11.3 by 7.6 centimeters, is made of quartz-rich granite – a geologically unusual material for the surrounding environment. The nearest source of this stone is located about 5 kilometers upstream, suggesting that it was deliberately transported to the site by a Neanderthal.
The researchers found no signs of cutting or use, indicating that the stone had no other purpose. Instead, the pigment and imprints indicate a symbolic or even ritual function, such as an amulet, a territorial marker, or a form of primitive artistic expression.
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Cave art – the work of Neanderthals
A discovery like this adds further evidence to the growing body of evidence suggesting that Neanderthals had symbolic and artistic awareness. Similar findings at the Maltravieso and La Pasiega caves in Spain have already fueled debate about their cognitive abilities, and now a fingerprint adds to the picture.
As the researchers point out, “it is not just a fingerprint – it is the signature of an individual who brought the object there beyond a practical purpose.” Whether art, a symbol of identity, or an expression of emotion, this imprint offers a rare and precious link to the Neanderthal past and, perhaps, to the beginnings of human creativity.
