Neanderthals created Europe's oldest 'intentional' engravings up to 75,000 years ago, study suggests

Study researchers Trine Freiesleben and Jean-Claude Marquet discuss the fingerprints and where to take optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples so they can date the artwork.  (Image credit: Credit: Kristina Thomsen; (CC-BY 4.0))

The oldest-known engravings in Europe, discovered in a French cave sealed up for tens of thousands of years, likely weren't crafted by modern humans but rather Neanderthals, a new study finds. 

Within the cave of La Roche-Cotard 150 miles (240 kilometers) southwest of Paris, the researchers analyzed a series of non-figurative markings thought to be made by ancient human fingers, according to a study published Wednesday (June 21) in the journal PLOS One.