Neanderthal's man was too little advanced to make a rope, did we believe? We were wrong. The residues of a 40,000 year old rope were found at the exit of the Gorges de l'Ardèche, testifying to the "unexpected cognitive capacities" of the Neanderthal man, explains the CNRS in a press release.
An international team including researchers from the French research organization made this discovery on a shard of flint from the prehistoric site of the Abri du Maras, located in Saint-Martin-d'Ardèche.
“Analysis by microscopy made it possible to show that these residues were twisted, proof of their modification by human activity. Examination of the photographs revealed three bundles of twisted fibers, folded together to form cords. In addition, analysis by spectroscopy revealed that these ropes were made of cellulose, probably from conifers, "explains the National Center for Scientific Research.
"In-depth knowledge of tree growth"
The Neanderthal man therefore needed "a good understanding of the mathematics necessary for winding fibers, but also an in-depth knowledge of tree growth" to make this rope, which is "the oldest proof of textile technology known to date ”.
According to the researchers, these few fibers prove that, "contrary to popular belief, Neandertal was no less technologically advanced than Homo sapiens".
This discovery, in which several laboratories participated, including that of Natural History of Prehistoric Man (CNRS / National Museum of Natural History / University of Perpignan - Via Domitia), was the subject of a publication on April 9 2020 in the journal Scientific Reports.