Neanderthal 60,000-year-old hyena bone suggests counting ability. Hyena bone from Les Pradelles site in France is approximately 60,000 years old Attributed to Neanderthals, making it significant for understanding Neanderthal cognitive abilities Has too few markings for some forms of analysis but scores highly in others
A 60‑kyr‑old hyena bone from Les Pradelles (Neanderthal) bears deliberate markings, hinting at counting and proto‑writing abilities long before Homo sapiens.
Key Facts
- Hyena bone from Les Pradelles site in France is approximately 60,000 years old
- Attributed to Neanderthals, making it significant for understanding Neanderthal cognitive abilities
- Has too few markings for some forms of analysis but scores highly in others
- Looks promising as proto-writing despite being from a Neanderthal context
- Shows that Neanderthal society possibly developed the ability to count
- Authors note counting isn't inherently human - some cultures lack number words
Related site: Les Pradelles — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Did Humans Begin Writing 40,000 Years Ago? Aurignacian #ancienthistory #science #archaeology by DeDunking