Neanderthals had a bad reputation, and it was widely believed that this extinct human race was completely different from our species, "Homo sapiens", but the view changed and suspicions fell!
Scientists initially thought that the current human race, Homo sapiens, did not intermarry with Neanderthal, who preceded it a long time ago, but they met in Europe and coexisted for a period of time. Contemporary about extinct ancient ancestors, which varied and was highest for the population of Europe and Asia and the lowest for the population of Africa.
For a long time, it was also believed that the Neanderthals were not able to speak, and this did not hold up with the evidence, which confirmed that the formation of the skull of this human species enabled it to speak like us, albeit in a slower way.
The suspicions that followed the "Neanderthal" stopped at a point of difference that was considered essential for the evolution of the contemporary human species, "Homo sapiens," and is represented in the ability to think and abstract creativity.
On September 4, 9 years ago, this assumption collapsed, when scientists found a sample of rock art in Gibraltar. Studies proved that it was a model of abstract art, and that modern Homo sapiens greatly underestimated the intelligence of its ancestors.
The "abstract" painting was found on a back wall in Gorham Cave in Gibraltar. Geochemical analysis of the rock showed that the painting was made 39,000 years ago and may be older. It is the first evidence that Neanderthals were able to create beautiful arts even Before he met the ancestors of modern humans who came to Europe and spread there about 40 thousand years ago.
The legend of this man was shattered on Gibraltar
Specialized scientists say that Gorham Cave, which was inhabited by Neanderthals, was known since 1950, but systematic excavations at the site did not begin until 1989, while researchers arrived inside the cave at the beginning of the 21st century.
The artistic painting, with an area of 300 square centimeters, was carved on the surface of a natural platform resembling a table, and in a location 40 centimeters above ground level. It consists of eight deep grooves etched across the width, and thin lines that intersect with them. Through experimentation, scientists confirmed that the work was completed with different stone tools, which confirms that it is a painting. Intentionally artistic, not traces of, for example, a "cutting of meat" operation.
The artwork was studied by researchers belonging to 11 different European museums and institutions, and several experiments were conducted during the studies to confirm that the artwork was carved with Neanderthal stone tools and that the marks were intentional.
Ethnologist Clive Finlayson, director of the Gibraltar Museum, confirmed that "this engraving is a deliberate drawing, designed to be seen by the Neanderthal who created it, given its size and location, and to be seen by the other inhabitants of the cave."
The legend of this man was shattered on Gibraltar
This specialized scientist stressed that this matter follows from it, "that the ability to think abstractly was not exceptional in modern man."
The same thing was confirmed by the anthropologist Francesco Derico, saying: "It is clear that the drawing was done purposefully, and not as a utilitarian activity... There was a desire to make an abstract pattern."
The importance of this discovery comes from the fact that archaeologists and anthropologists previously had only indirect evidence of abstract thinking in ancient hominins who inhabited the planet before the appearance of the ancestors of Homo sapiens, which is represented by burials, the use of black and red dyes, painted shells, and bird feathers.
The rock art of Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar is the first known example of an abstract image that does not perform practical functions, and this type requires a lot of effort.
Shortly before this discovery was announced, another team of scientists working at Gorham Cave announced that Neanderthals hunted wild pigeons by sneaking into their nests on top of rocks.
SpaceX : thanks the Russian Space Agency for its cooperation after the return of the Dragon spacecraft to Earth
The American company SpaceX expressed its gratitude to the Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, for its cooperation in the Dragon mission, which recently returned successfully to Earth.
In a speech broadcast on NASA's website, SpaceX spokesman Benji Reed thanked everyone who contributed to the success of this mission and expressed his gratitude to NASA, Roscosmos, and the UAE for the trust, partnership, and intense cooperation in this mission.
On Monday morning, the SpaceX vehicle returned from the International Space Station to Earth and landed in the ocean off the coast of Florida, USA, carrying on board the Crew-6 mission crew, which included Russian astronaut Andrei Fedyev, and NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg. and Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.
"Dragon" was launched to the International Space Station on March 2 from a base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, using a Falcon 9 rocket made by SpaceX. The next day, the vehicle docked with the Harmony module of the American division of the station, and Fedyev became the second Russian astronaut. He flies to the International Space Station aboard Dragon vehicles as part of the joint Russian-American space flight program.
Interesting read.
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