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Neanderthals had a behavior similar to the ancestors of modern humans, Cro-Magnon, according to a study involving researchers at the University of Murcia and Valencia, which was published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA.
A multidisciplinary and international team composed of 14 researchers, including professors at the University of Murcia José María Martínez-Sánchez, Carmen Perez and Josefina Zapata Sirvent, have been found in cave deposits Murcian Airplanes (Cartagena) and Anthony Cave ( Mula) shells, perforated and / or colored pigment, which have been interpreted as personal decoration material.
This finding, as reported today at a press conference at the University of Murcia heads the research team, Joao Zilhao (University of Bristol) and Agustin Villaverde (Universidad de Valencia), proof that Neanderthals had symbolically organized behavior, similar that of the first anatomically modern humans in Africa.
The Neanderthals who will use ornaments and paintings (including makeup, as suggested by the study) 10,000 years before the arrival of the Cro-Magnon Europe, 50,000 years ago, is, say Zilhao, the definitive demonstration of symbolic thought.
Joao Zilhao extraordinary highlighted the finding for the theory of evolution, as it has solved a problem-the degree of cognitive development of Neanderthals, which had been discussed for a century and a half, and predicted future disclosures on deposits Murcia.
In the press conference presentation of research, held in convalescence, home of the Chancellor, the Director of Fine Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Autonomous Region, Enrique Ujaldón welcomed a finding that confirms the Region of Murcia as a reference International prehistoric knowledge.
In this regard, he announced that the remains found at these sites will be exposed in the future Museum of Paleontology and Human Evolution being built in Torre Pacheco.
The Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Murcia, Juan María Vázquez, said has done an exemplary job, which have joined researchers from different institutions, countries and disciplines with a common goal, and the view are the results .
The study is part of the project "From Middle to Upper Palaeolithic in the region of Murcia, whose principal investigator is Prof. Josefina Zapata and funded by the University of Murcia.
Source: Universidad de Murcia. Fotos: Juanchi López
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