February 2018 PMID 29472483

U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art.

D L Hoffmann, C D Standish, M García-Diez, P B Pettitt, J A Milton, J Zilhão, J J Alcolea-González, P Cantalejo-Duarte, H Collado, R de Balbín, M Lorblanchet, J Ramos-Muñoz, G-Ch Weniger, A W G Pike

Mentions

546
Peak: 17 in Jan 2023
across 7 sources since Feb 2018

Extended reach

4,182,250
potential audience

Total likes

51,584

Video views

3,056,988

Mentions per month

Feb 2018 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News402 articles
  • Facebook50 posts
  • X / Twitter42 posts
  • Blogs42 articles
  • Reddit5 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Several discussions exemplify a high level of engagement through references to specific studies, such as the 2018 article in Science, and detailed explanations of research methods that support the Neandertal origin of cave art. The tone throughout is one of curiosity and validation, with phrases like 'confirms,' 'suggests,' and 'reveals' indicating strong belief in the significance of the findings and their potential to reshape understanding of Neandertal capabilities.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions strongly support the findings of the publication, emphasizing that Neandertals created cave art well before modern humans arrived in Europe.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate high interest by referencing scientific studies, dating methods, and the broader implications for understanding Neandertal cognitive abilities.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many comments actively analyze the research methods, historical context, and significance, indicating deep engagement with the topic.

ImpactHigh impact

Discussions highlight the potential paradigm shift this research could cause in archaeology and anthropology, suggesting it challenges long-held views and is therefore highly impactful.

Abstract in brief

  • Uranium-thorium dating of carbonate crusts over cave paintings in Spain indicates that Neandertals created some of the earliest known cave art in Iberia, dating back at least 648,000 years.
  • This predates the arrival of modern humans in Europe by at least 20,000 years, suggesting Neandertals were capable of symbolic behavior such as cave art.
  • The findings challenge previous assumptions that only modern humans made cave art, highlighting the cognitive abilities of Neandertals.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Phys.org
@physorg_com · X

Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEcoEvo https://t.co/nth9Sli9wf https://t.co/Y6BjvhPPzh

Jan 6, 2023 · 38 likes · 14 shares · 1,024,097 followers View post →
mlinaje
@mlinaje · X

Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Ykns Estudio científico: https://t.co/m6G6NHE1t5 Poner en peligro también este Patrimonio por una mina en Cáceres, tampoco se sostiene. #NoALaMinaCC

Dec 19, 2024 · 8 likes · 5 shares · 1,633 followers View post →
Linguistic Discovery
@lingdiscovery · X

Now, we are learning that Neanderthals may have had art and other symbolic etchings, long before the arrival of humans, breathing new life into the question of whether Neanderthals had language. https://t.co/1ayFEtBAat #linguistics #language #science #archaeology #Neanderthal

May 29, 2022 · 6 likes · 8,256 followers View post →
Neanderthal News
@NeanderthalNews · X

https://t.co/TCDgwLPCNJ

Jan 7, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 1,074 followers View post →
Legado - Arqueología Virtual
@Legado3D · X

En 2018 Science publicó un artículo que revelaba dataciones de arte rupestre hace unos 64-65k años, y atribuía estas pinturas a los Neandertales. Death Stranding se lanzó en 2019. Documentación rápida y actualizada para el contenido del juego. https://t.co/O31OacU8ru https://t.co/09DPgv01qP

Jan 11, 2023 · 3 likes · 859 followers View post →
James Bisset
@bissetjm · X

@OpenResLeeds @DROdurham @LearnTechDurham @AttentionLab @careersatdurham @altmetric Leeds edition.. ❤ it. @durham_uni had its 1st co-authored altmetric top 100 paper for 2018 https://t.co/CRQaVzjit3 (https://t.co/UeEUXcSyeM) Does the University use Explorer? I'm over at Leeds in 2 weeks, so maybe we pick up then!

Sep 6, 2019 · 3 likes · 293 followers View post →

All mentions

Desenredando la historia
@WBTimm · X

2 En 2018, un estudio en Science confirmó que neandertales pintaban cuevas 20.000 años antes de que llegaran los Homo sapiens a Europa. Datación: 64.000 años Cuevas: La Pasiega, Maltravieso y Ardales (España) Fuente: Hoffmann et al., Science (2018) DOI: 10.1126/science.aap7778

Jul 12, 2025 · 4 followers View post →
Antonio Silva-Luengo
@AguaSilva · X

RT @mlinaje: Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Yk…

Dec 21, 2024 · 5 shares · 507 followers View post →
Salvemos La Montaña
@salvemosMontana · X

RT @mlinaje: Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Yk…

Dec 21, 2024 · 5 shares · 2,643 followers View post →
cikeron
@cikeron · X

RT @mlinaje: Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Yk…

Dec 20, 2024 · 5 shares · 232 followers View post →
AgustinBotines
@AgustinBotines · X

RT @mlinaje: Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Yk…

Dec 20, 2024 · 5 shares · 3,271 followers View post →
Adrián
@hadriano88 · X

RT @mlinaje: Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Yk…

Dec 19, 2024 · 5 shares · 214 followers View post →
mlinaje
@mlinaje · X

Manos de Maltravieso Explicación del método de datación, y por qué son neandertales sus autores (2018). https://t.co/RHn962Ykns Estudio científico: https://t.co/m6G6NHE1t5 Poner en peligro también este Patrimonio por una mina en Cáceres, tampoco se sostiene. #NoALaMinaCC

Dec 19, 2024 · 8 likes · 5 shares · 1,633 followers View post →
70sFan
@70sFanNBA · X

@Boxliver24 @Przedsoborowo @kontraswiat @DinoLover2024 @Pajki2 Trudno porównywać szympanse używające kamieni i patyków do jednak zaawansowanej obróbki kamienia przez neandertalczyków oraz poszlak stanowiących coś na kształt sztuki w jaskiniach przez nich zamieszkałych: https://t.co/au6N0gAq8E

Aug 20, 2024 · 298 followers View post →
Juan O
@P6a40 · X

@CarlosMaslaton Es un tema bastante discutido, hay un artículo de science del 2018 sobre este tema https://t.co/YCJMMWvic4

Mar 6, 2024 · 1 like · 266 followers View post →
Onkel Mindful Damage
@MindfulDamage · X

@marcado_razon @SleepinEyes @TheGod_Particle @AiG And that proof is readily available for those that look for it. https://t.co/voZ6N3RTqz

Dec 22, 2023 · 1 like · 1,617 followers View post →
Steve Patton
@prehistorysteve · X

@TheLoneSeeker @archeohistories I wondered the same. Apparently it's the dating that's suggestive of Neanderthals rather than other firm evidence. Presumably that's based on evidence for Neanderthal sophistication and a lack of evidence of other human species in the area at that time. https://t.co/2Blv6dYRJN

Oct 22, 2023 · 2 likes · 182 followers View post →
Baxter Williams
@BaxterWilliams_ · X

Info taken from here: https://t.co/Pw6Bt0Ntqi

Sep 5, 2023 · 1,759 followers View post →
MrGrentch
@SirGrentch · X

@Yaka_1999 @akubukanako @archeohistories These are much older than Altamira. 65,000yrs old. Before Modern Humans got to Europe. https://t.co/TLf7HNpKFn Neandertals were also building structures from stalagmite/tites deep in a French cave 120k+ yrs ago. For what purpose we have no idea. https://t.co/GfvLEhcViQ

Jan 13, 2023 · 224 followers View post →
Legado - Arqueología Virtual
@Legado3D · X

En 2018 Science publicó un artículo que revelaba dataciones de arte rupestre hace unos 64-65k años, y atribuía estas pinturas a los Neandertales. Death Stranding se lanzó en 2019. Documentación rápida y actualizada para el contenido del juego. https://t.co/O31OacU8ru https://t.co/09DPgv01qP

Jan 11, 2023 · 3 likes · 859 followers View post →
Querfeldein
@InesLalowa · X

RT @NeanderthalNews: https://t.co/TCDgwLPCNJ

Jan 8, 2023 · 2 shares · 381 followers View post →
BOUDICCA
@BOUDICC88003310 · X

RT @NeanderthalNews: https://t.co/TCDgwLPCNJ

Jan 7, 2023 · 2 shares · 981 followers View post →
Neanderthal News
@NeanderthalNews · X

https://t.co/TCDgwLPCNJ

Jan 7, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 1,074 followers View post →
Crowzlyy
@Crowzlyy · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 2,688 followers View post →
Quantumjumps
@quantumjumpsy · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 14 followers View post →
serrgv
@serrgv · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 147 followers View post →
Rogue Botany
@rogue_botany · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 103 followers View post →
CopperKettle
@Artyom_Yekat · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 384 followers View post →
Eu
@habitante_venus · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 338 followers View post →
HussainHyder707
@HussainHyder707 · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 1,808 followers View post →
Manu Gupta
@mgupt108 · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 5,107 followers View post →
Cosmopolitan
@alikiaj · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 3,191 followers View post →
Aljen Embtry
@bioempire84 · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 131 followers View post →
Phys.org Biology
@physorg_biology · X

RT @physorg_com: Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEc…

Jan 6, 2023 · 14 shares · 8,217 followers View post →
Phys.org
@physorg_com · X

Human and Neanderthal brains have a surprising 'youthful' quality in common, new research finds @ConversationEDU @NatureEcoEvo https://t.co/nth9Sli9wf https://t.co/Y6BjvhPPzh

Jan 6, 2023 · 38 likes · 14 shares · 1,024,097 followers View post →
Linguistic Discovery
@lingdiscovery · X

Now, we are learning that Neanderthals may have had art and other symbolic etchings, long before the arrival of humans, breathing new life into the question of whether Neanderthals had language. https://t.co/1ayFEtBAat #linguistics #language #science #archaeology #Neanderthal

May 29, 2022 · 6 likes · 8,256 followers View post →
Ricardo Calvário - History Myths & Legends
@RicardoCalvrio1 · X

https://t.co/t3UYxVz5Kc

May 7, 2022 · 1 like · 7,492 followers View post →
George Dawson
@dawso007 · X

Fellow Neanderthals: U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art https://t.co/UdN51Rs3rv

Jul 27, 2021 · 2 likes · 7,805 followers View post →
Elif Celik
@elifcelik28 · X

RT @elifcelik28: @stomodeum @unalokan @warren_marques @igneyibaskasina @Alietin37 @hypatia_372 @elrahanun @eloxnopasaran @Quark96793397 @ha…

Jan 17, 2021 · 1 share · 1,932 followers View post →
Bret Logan
@Bret_Logan · X

U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art "The oldest dated cave paintings in the world predate the arrival of modern humans in Europe by at least 20,000 years, which suggests that they must be of Neandertal origin." https://t.co/sPVFkth7GH

Feb 5, 2020 · 71 followers View post →
Virginia Clark Warnes
@clark_warnes · X

U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art https://t.co/Z7RKfFpIoX

Jan 9, 2020 · 53 followers View post →
Karma
@casadella_k · X

U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art https://t.co/D569mY2O7K

Dec 13, 2019 · 27 followers View post →
Geetha Iyer
@Geetha_Iyer · X

I wrote “Meaningful Symbols” in response to recent paper in @sciencemagazine (Hoffmann et al, 2018. DOI: 10.1126/science.aap7778, https://t.co/CpVN9A1PRz), that suggests Neanderthals may have been making art 20,000 years before modern humans did...

Nov 18, 2019 · 410 followers View post →
James Bisset
@bissetjm · X

@OpenResLeeds @DROdurham @LearnTechDurham @AttentionLab @careersatdurham @altmetric Leeds edition.. ❤ it. @durham_uni had its 1st co-authored altmetric top 100 paper for 2018 https://t.co/CRQaVzjit3 (https://t.co/UeEUXcSyeM) Does the University use Explorer? I'm over at Leeds in 2 weeks, so maybe we pick up then!

Sep 6, 2019 · 3 likes · 293 followers View post →
Elif Celik
@elifcelik28 · X

@stomodeum @unalokan @warren_marques @igneyibaskasina @Alietin37 @hypatia_372 @elrahanun @eloxnopasaran @Quark96793397 @hale3554 @Bayanmarlyn2 @haticeacar626 @sorularlaislam Ludovic Slimak, et. al., Comment on “U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art," Science, 361, eaau1371, 21 Sept 2018 Ayrica, Neanderthallere ait sanat objeleri bulundugu iddia edilen baska yerlerde de bu iliskisi sorgulanmis ve reddedilmis.

Aug 21, 2019 · 1 share · 1,932 followers View post →
Åtħ Gøðêlítšäs
@godelitsas · X

U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art https://t.co/Vk77g3M180

May 12, 2019 · 11,637 followers View post →
R. M.G.
@2205 · X

U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art https://t.co/P80ATjNs0L

Feb 11, 2019 · 1 like · 466 followers View post →
Crónica de Arqueología
@ivandiazsm · X

@arqueomaniaprod @FATAPUERCA @PedreraPedre @I_MartinLerma @MMartinonT @mmartinloeches @UGREvolucion @MANArqueologico @marqalicante @CuevasCant @pilarfatas @OntanonR @cuevArdales @mna_inah Yo creo que sí se ha atribuido “U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals Neandertal origin of Iberian cave art”...es bastante diáfano...pero no me refería al trabajo de Marcos en concreto...q sin duda es interesante...si no en general. Y habría q esperar a más estudios.

Jan 17, 2019 · 2 likes · 22,106 followers View post →
Jens Notroff
@jensnotroff.com · Bluesky

Original study by D. L. Hoffmann et al. ("U-Th dating of carbonate crusts reveals #Neandertal origin of #Iberian #CaveArt") published in @sciencemagazine 359 (6378), pp. 912-915: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6378/912

Feb 23, 2018 · 1 share View post →