Recent discoveries have shed new light on the creative capabilities of Neanderthals, challenging longstanding beliefs about their cultural practices and artistic traditions. A simple yet striking chevron pattern etched into a deer bone found in a German cave suggests that Neanderthals may have had their own form of artistic expression well before the arrival of modern humans in Europe. This artifact, believed to be over 51,000 years old, predates the arrival of Homo sapiens by at least 10,000 years, offering new insights into the cognitive and cultural lives of Neanderthals.
The bone, uncovered in the Einhornhoehle cave in central Germany, was originally found during a 2017 excavation beneath a collapsed entrance. The site, known for its historical association with prehistoric life, had been searched by treasure hunters since the Middle Ages. Archaeologists working at the site have long been studying its Neanderthal connections, and this recent find adds significant depth to our understanding of these ancient humans. The bone is from the foot of a giant extinct deer, and measures approximately 5.5 cm long, 4 cm wide, and 3 cm thick—about half the size of a playing card.
What sets this artifact apart from other finds attributed to Neanderthals is the geometric pattern carved into it: six intersecting diagonal lines form a chevron design, which covers much of one surface of the bone. Researchers have emphasized that the carving has no obvious utilitarian function. Instead, it appears to be a purely symbolic creation, a means of expression that was not intended for practical use but rather as a form of communication or artistic expression.
The engraving has been subject to radiocarbon dating, which places it at a minimum of 51,000 years old. This finding directly challenges the prevailing view that Neanderthals only began creating symbolic objects after interacting with Homo sapiens. Prior to this discovery, most researchers believed that the cognitive ability to create abstract cultural expressions, like art or symbolism, was unique to Homo sapiens. However, the study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, argues that the cultural influence of Homo sapiens is no longer the sole explanation for such behaviors in Neanderthals.
Dirk Leder, one of the lead researchers, explained that the bone’s design clearly represents an intentional act of communication. He suggested that it was likely meant to convey an idea or a story to a group, providing evidence of Neanderthal culture that goes beyond mere survival. This interpretation challenges the idea that Neanderthals were solely focused on practical needs, instead suggesting they had the cognitive ability for complex thought and symbolic reasoning.
The bone was not only carved but also likely subjected to a complex production process. The researchers recreated the engraving by working with cow bones, finding that the bone was probably boiled several times before it was sculpted with flint tools. This intricate production process, along with the rarity of giant deer in the region, supports the idea that the carving was a deliberate and meaningful act, rather than a random or accidental mark.
In addition to the chevron-patterned deer bone, there are other artifacts from this period that show Neanderthals engaging in symbolic behaviors. For example, some Neanderthal artifacts have been found with cross-hatch or zigzag marks, which may indicate an understanding of geometric patterns. However, the newly discovered deer bone is considered one of the most complex and deliberate examples of Neanderthal cultural expression known to date.
Leder points out that while there are other Neanderthal markings from this era, they are often not directly comparable, possibly because Neanderthal groups were smaller and more dispersed. This lack of widespread transmission of symbolic meaning between groups could explain why Neanderthal symbolic practices did not become as enduring or widespread as those of Homo sapiens. Yet, the fact that the deer bone engraving predates Homo sapiens in the region suggests that Neanderthals might have had their own lasting cultural legacies, possibly even influencing later human cultures in ways that are still not fully understood.
This discovery is part of a broader trend in recent years that has started to reshape our understanding of Neanderthal intelligence and culture. For years, scientists have viewed Homo sapiens as the intellectual and cultural standard-bearers of the prehistoric world. However, as more discoveries like the chevron-patterned bone emerge, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Neanderthals may have possessed advanced cognitive abilities that were once thought to be unique to modern humans. The idea that Neanderthals were the creators of abstract art and symbolic practices, and not just imitators of Homo sapiens, challenges traditional narratives of human evolution.
In addition to this finding, another recent discovery—the nearly perfectly preserved skull of a large-brained ancient human found in northeastern China—further complicates our understanding of human evolution. Known as “Dragon Man,” this individual represents a new species of ancient human that may have been even more closely related to modern humans than Neanderthals, suggesting a more complex web of human evolution than previously thought.
Taken together, these discoveries highlight the need for a rethinking of the cognitive and cultural capabilities of ancient humans. The chevron pattern on the Neanderthal bone offers not only a glimpse into the artistic traditions of a species long believed to be incapable of symbolic thinking but also a new perspective on the evolution of human creativity and cultural expression. It underscores the complexity of the Neanderthal legacy, offering a more nuanced view of our ancient relatives and their place in human history.