New analysis of fossils found in a cave in Spain shows that Neanderthals were capable of abstract thinking before any interaction with animals. homo sapiens. A total of 15 small marine fossils were found in the Prado Vargas cave in Burgos, and most of them are of little practical value, according to researchers from the University of Burgos and the University of Malaga in Spain.

This means that these fossilized sea creatures are likely collectibles deliberately collected by ancient hominids for some purpose other than basic use. This demonstrates abstract thinking, the ability to think beyond current and immediate experiences, which is an important human characteristic.

“The fossils show no evidence of their use as tools, with one exception,” the researchers wrote in their published paper. “Therefore, their presence in the cave can be attributed to collecting.” “This activity may have been driven by a range of material and non-material causes, suggesting that collecting and associated abstract thought were present in Neanderthals before the emergence of modern humans.”

The more we learn about our distant relatives, the smarter they seem. This isn’t the first time Neanderthals collected objects other than tools, but this haul is larger than previous finds. Dated to approximately 39,800-54,600 years ago, the fossils appear to be part of a settled community camp.

However, it is difficult to determine which of the “material and moral reasons” is valid here. Researchers suggest that they may have decorative value, be used in exchange, provide cultural identity to a group, or be collected as gifts. Since there is evidence that children lived in the cave, it is thought that these may even be toys for children. In short, the reasons for collecting are potentially as diverse as the reasons we continue to collect objects today.

“They may have been found deliberately or accidentally, but their transportation into the cave was likely intentional, indicating a desire to collect these fossils,” the researchers write. “In any case, they will have special meaning.”

Regardless of what these collectibles were used for, it is significant that there is also no evidence of early human activity at the site; It appears to be a behavior that Neanderthals developed on their own.

Our passion for collecting goes back a long way (perhaps half a million years), but there is much debate about when it actually started and what genre it originated from. Fossils from Prado Vargas offer exciting new insights into the timeframe of collecting and considering concepts beyond the here and now.

“These fossils can be understood as evidence of artistic interest, fascination, or curiosity with the forms of nature,” the researchers write. “They do not have a utilitarian purpose and therefore their comments are debatable.” The study was published on: quaternary.