Neanderthal Cave Structures: Difference between revisions
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[[File:728.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Image: Michel Soulier/SSAC]]The Neanderthal Cave Structures are arrangements of stalagmites discovered in the Bruniquel Cave in south-west France in the 1990s that have been dated to around 175,000 years ago, well before the migration of modern humans into Europe and among the oldest of built structures yet to have been discovered. | [[File:728.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Image: Michel Soulier/SSAC]]The Neanderthal Cave Structures are arrangements of stalagmites discovered in the Bruniquel Cave in south-west France in the 1990s that have been dated to around 175,000 years ago, well before the migration of modern humans into Europe, and among the oldest of built structures yet to have been discovered. | ||
The cave was initially explored by speleologists in the early 1990's who discovered, around 300 meters from the entrance, a low semi-circular structure on the cave floor, as well as other smaller assemblages. The main arrangement is constructed from stalagmites broken off from other parts of the cave and laid out horizontally in overlapping layers to create a low-walled semi-enclosed area. Vertically positioned stalagmite parts are also in evidence and appear to have been used to strengthen and support the horizontal elements. | The cave was initially explored by speleologists in the early 1990's who discovered, around 300 meters from the entrance, a low semi-circular structure on the cave floor, as well as other smaller assemblages. The main arrangement is constructed from stalagmites broken off from other parts of the cave and laid out horizontally in overlapping layers to create a low-walled semi-enclosed area. Vertically positioned stalagmite parts are also in evidence and appear to have been used to strengthen and support the horizontal elements. | ||
Revision as of 13:47, 30 September 2016
The Neanderthal Cave Structures are arrangements of stalagmites discovered in the Bruniquel Cave in south-west France in the 1990s that have been dated to around 175,000 years ago, well before the migration of modern humans into Europe, and among the oldest of built structures yet to have been discovered.
The cave was initially explored by speleologists in the early 1990's who discovered, around 300 meters from the entrance, a low semi-circular structure on the cave floor, as well as other smaller assemblages. The main arrangement is constructed from stalagmites broken off from other parts of the cave and laid out horizontally in overlapping layers to create a low-walled semi-enclosed area. Vertically positioned stalagmite parts are also in evidence and appear to have been used to strengthen and support the horizontal elements.
Uranium-series dating has established consistent ages of around 175,000 years for the creation of the structures. The dating procedure involved sampling the material of the stalagmites and the calcite layers that have grown over them in the millennia since the structure was laid out. The site has been remarkably well preserved, the original entrance to the cave having been sealed by rock fall before the end of the Pleistocene period.
The purpose of the constructions remains mysterious. Evidence of charring on multiple locations of the structure appears to confirm the existence of hearths. The site is well beyond the reach of daylight from the cave's original entrance. The discovery is considered of major significance to our understanding of hominid development, demonstrating Neanderthal deep cave use and a degree of social organisation not previously evidenced at sites in use this early in European prehistory.