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New archaeological evidence shows that early humans were already capable of symbolic thought more than 200 years ago! Geometric engravings found in caves in the Levant suggest that our ancestors had advanced cognition, challenging everything we knew about human evolution.
Check this out: a recent discovery could completely change the way we understand the evolution of humanity. A study published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences revealed that early humans already had symbolic and abstract thinking more than 200 years ago!
Do you know those mysterious engravings in caves? Well, they were not made at random. Researchers have found geometric patterns intentionally engraved on rocks, indicating that our ancestors already had a much more sophisticated level of cognition than we imagined. Were they trying to communicate? Creating art? Or perhaps even developing a rudimentary writing system?
The evolution of symbolic thought in early humans
It has always been believed that symbolic thinking was exclusive to modern humans, emerging some 40 years ago. But apparently, this idea is falling apart.
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New evidence shows that hominids in the Middle Paleolithic period (250.000 to 45.000 years ago) were already producing symbols, meaning that culture and communication began much earlier than previously thought.
If they could already engrave symbols in stone, did they already have rituals, language or even a primitive form of art? This could rewrite the entire timeline of human evolution.
Intentional Engravings: The Secret Code of Early Humans?
Archaeologists have analyzed stone artifacts found at archaeological sites in the Levant, such as Manot Cave, Qafzeh Cave and the Quneitra site, and discovered something surprising.
Using 3D analysis technology, they realized that the cuts were not random marks — they were intentional engravings. But what did the first humans mean by this??
Here are some possibilities:
An art form? Like the most famous cave drawings, only much older.
A communication system? Something like a visual code between tribes.
Rituals and beliefs? Perhaps a first step towards the emergence of religiosity.
Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: our ancestors were thinking far beyond simple survival.
How did scientists manage to prove this?
To avoid any doubt, the researchers used advanced 3D surface analysis. The goal? To differentiate intentional engravings from functional marks made by the everyday use of stone tools.
And the results were very clear:
The engravings in the caves of Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra were made with symbolic intent.
The ones in Amud Cave seemed to be just normal wear and tear from using tools.
In other words, not all hominid groups had this ability, which may indicate that symbolic thinking emerged in some regions before spreading.
Now Imagine the work involved in carving these symbols in stone? They needed sharp tools and a good level of hand-eye coordination. This shows that, in addition to abstract thinking, they also had impressive technical skills.
It is very difficult to interpret behaviors from such distant times. What seems symbolic to us may simply be a direct interpretation of everyday things.