World’s oldest selfie? 43,000-year-old Neanderthal art reveals earliest face perception

undefined 30, 2025

Source: interestingengineering

A 43,000-year-old granite pebble found in central Spain has revealed the most complete Neanderthal fingerprint ever discovered. Likely left while applying red ocher to create a symbolic face, the print suggests advanced cognitive abilities, including abstract thinking and pareidolia—the tendency to see faces in objects. The stone, not used as a tool, may be one of the earliest examples of symbolic expression in Europe. Researchers believe the print, likely from an adult male, offers new insights into Neanderthal intelligence and challenges long-held assumptions about their capabilities.

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