Tracing the Hands of Time: Neanderthals and the Cave Art of Maltravieso
Exploring the Oldest Hand Stencils and What They Reveal About Neanderthal Creativity and Symbolism
Cave art has long been a touchstone for understanding the cognitive and cultural worlds of ancient humans. A recent study1 examining hand stencils in Maltravieso Cave, Extremadura, Spain, provides transformative insights into the origins of symbolic expression. Through uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating, researchers have identified these artworks as some of the oldest known examples of parietal art, potentially created by Neanderthals over 66,000 years ago. This revelation challenges assumptions about early art and its association with modern humans, re-framing the story of creativity in the deep past.
A Prehistoric Treasure: Maltravieso Cave
Maltravieso Cave, rediscovered in 1951, is a labyrinth of chambers in Cáceres, Spain. Known for its remarkable collection of over 60 red hand stencils, the cave also houses depictions of animals, geometric motifs, and non-figurative symbols. The hand stencils, often created by blowing red pigment around a hand pressed to the rock, have drawn attention due to their simplicity and symbolic weight.
Previously assumed to belong to the Upper Paleolithic, these stencils were re-evaluated using U-Th dating. This technique analyzes carbonate crusts that formed over the pigments, providing minimum ages for the art. One stencil was dated to at least 66,700 years ago, far older than the arrival of modern humans in Europe. This raises a profound question: Could these symbols have been the work of Neanderthals?
Decoding the Chronology of Ancient Art
The U-Th dating approach marks a significant shift in rock art studies. Unlike radiocarbon dating, which is limited to organic materials, U-Th dating measures isotopes in calcium carbonate deposits. In Maltravieso, researchers analyzed samples from multiple panels, including the Galería de la Serpiente and Sala de las Pinturas. The results revealed a complex chronology, with some hand stencils predating 66,000 years and others as recent as 6,000 years.
This layered timeline suggests that Maltravieso’s art evolved over millennia, potentially reflecting the contributions of multiple human species. While the older stencils are likely the work of Neanderthals, later additions might include those of early modern humans.
“The minimum ages of the hand stencils confirm that symbolic behavior and artistic expression were present in Europe long before modern humans arrived,” the authors conclude.
The Neanderthal Question: Symbolism and Innovation
One of the study’s most striking implications is its support for Neanderthal authorship of the oldest stencils. For decades, debates about Neanderthal cognition have centered on whether they possessed the symbolic thinking required for art. The Maltravieso findings bolster evidence from other sites, such as La Pasiega and Ardales, where similarly aged art has been linked to Neanderthals.
The hand stencils’ placement also suggests intentionality. Many are positioned in hard-to-reach areas of the cave, far from natural light. This deliberate seclusion hints at a ritual or symbolic function, underscoring the depth of meaning these markings may have held for their creators.
“These artworks are not random graffiti but deliberate expressions, perhaps linked to rituals or social cohesion,” the researchers argue.
A Shared Heritage: What Maltravieso Teaches Us
Maltravieso Cave offers a rare glimpse into the shared artistic legacy of humanity. Whether created by Neanderthals or modern humans, the hand stencils represent a universal impulse to leave a mark, to communicate through symbols. Their simplicity belies their profound significance as one of the earliest forms of human visual culture.
This study also highlights the role of technological innovation in uncovering prehistoric truths. By refining dating methods, researchers have expanded the horizons of archaeology, enabling more nuanced interpretations of our ancestors’ lives and creativity.
Key Takeaways
The Maltravieso Cave findings invite us to rethink the boundaries of creativity and humanity. They remind us that the desire to create, to symbolize, and to communicate transcends species, time, and place, connecting us to our ancient ancestors in profound ways.
The hand stencils of Maltravieso Cave are among the oldest known parietal artworks, dated to at least 66,700 years ago.
The findings support the hypothesis that Neanderthals, not just modern humans, were capable of symbolic expression.
The cave’s art spans tens of thousands of years, suggesting contributions from multiple human groups.
The deliberate placement of stencils in dark, hidden areas points to their possible ritual significance.
Related Research Studies
Here is a list of additional studies related to the dating of hand stencils, U-Th dating techniques, and early cave art, which provide context and comparisons to the research on Maltravieso Cave:
U-Th Dating of Carbonate Crusts Reveals Neandertal Origin of Iberian Cave Art
Authors: Hoffmann, D. L., García-Diez, M., Pettitt, P. B., et al.
Journal: Science, 2018.
DOI: 10.1126/science.aap7778
Summary: Demonstrates that Neandertals created some of the earliest known cave art in Iberia, including hand stencils, through U-Th dating of calcite formations.
Dating Paleolithic Cave Art: Why U-Th is the Way to Go
Authors: Pike, A. W. G., Hoffmann, D. L., et al.
Journal: Quaternary International, 2017.
DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2015.12.019
Summary: Argues for the reliability of U-Th dating in analyzing calcite deposits overlying Paleolithic cave art.
New Ages for Old Paintings: U-Th Dating Reveals Neanderthal Origin of Cave Paintings
Authors: Hoffmann, D. L., García-Diez, M., Pettitt, P. B., et al.
Published by: University Repository, 2021.
Link: PDF Access
Summary: Focuses on re-evaluating the age of Iberian cave art, highlighting the role of Neanderthals in its creation.
Hand Stencils and Early Symbolic Expression in Sulawesi
Authors: Aubert, M., et al.
Journal: Nature, 2014.
DOI: 10.1038/nature13422
Summary: Explores hand stencils and figurative art from Sulawesi, establishing the global importance of early symbolic expressions using U-Th dating.
Pigment Spectroscopy Analyses in Maltravieso Cave, Spain
Authors: Rosina, P., Collado, H., et al.
Journal: L'Anthropologie, 2023.
DOI: 10.1016/j.anthro.2023.102975
Summary: Provides insights into the chemical composition of pigments used in cave paintings, complementing dating studies.
The Chronology of European Upper Paleolithic Art
Authors: Pettitt, P. B., Pike, A. W. G., et al.
Journal: Journal of Archaeological Science, 2019.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2019.105001
Summary: Reviews methodologies and challenges in dating Upper Paleolithic art, including the application of U-Th techniques.
Exploring the Utility of Geometric Morphometrics to Analyze Prehistoric Hand Stencils
Authors: Fernández Navarro, V., Godinho, R. M., et al.
Journal: Scientific Reports, 2024.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56889-3
Summary: Utilizes geometric morphometric techniques to assess the diversity and significance of prehistoric hand stencils.
Art: Neanderthal Symbolic Graphic Behavior
Authors: García-Diez, M., Hoffmann, D. L., et al.
Journal: Updating Neanderthals, 2022.
Link: Elsevier
Summary: Examines symbolic Neanderthal behavior through the lens of cave art analysis and U-Th dating.
Contribution to the Debate About Prehistoric Rock Art in Southern Europe
Authors: Fernández-Sánchez, D., Collado, H., Vila, E. V.
Journal: Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, 2021.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.104780
Summary: Presents new findings of Paleolithic motifs, including hand stencils, in southern Europe.
Historical Dimensions of Rock Art: Perspectives from Peripheries
Authors: Berrocal, M. C., Gárate, D.
Journal: Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 2022.
DOI: 10.1017/S0959774324000179
Summary: Discusses how peripheral regions, such as Iberia, contribute to our understanding of early symbolic behavior.
Standish, C. D., Pettitt, P., Collado, H., Aguilar, J. C., Milton, J. A., García-Diez, M., Hoffmann, D. L., Zilhão, J., & Pike, A. W. G. (2025). The age of hand stencils in Maltravieso cave (Extremadura, Spain) established by U-Th dating, and its implications for the early development of art. Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports, 61(104891), 104891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104891