Deep in a cave in southwest France , close off from the outside world for tenner of G of years , researchers have discovered evidence of former human twist . But the ring - same structure with partitially standing walls , make from hundreds of chunks of stalagmite dates to around 176,000 years ago , meaning that it was n’t New human beings who created it , but our swinish full cousin . The finding are published this week inNature .
The Bruniquel cave was originally explored in 1990 when spelunkers break through the entrance , thought to have been sealed for thousands of old age . Inside they find tantalizing traces of cave bears , now extinct , who had used the cave for hibernation . Their footprints , pincer marks , pelt and hibernation hollows were all save in the cushy floor of the interior .
Two of the most promiment ring are shown here . The big one is 6.7 metre ( 22 substructure ) across , while the modest one is 2.2 metre ( 7.2 feet).Xavier MUTH - Get in Situ / Archéotransfert / Archéovision -SHS-3D / base photographique Pascal Mora
But further into the scheme , some 336 meters ( 1,102 feet ) from the ingress , the cavers discovered something far more challenging : a serial of ring - like structures , articulated lorry - dress circle , and smaller loads all constructed using broken bit of stalagmite . Was this a innate formation , or something far more interesting ?
Yet it was n’t until 2013 that researcher , lead by Jacques Jaubert from the University of Bordeaux , were capable to get down into the cave and study the structures . see 18 samples take from the area hold in the structures , using a variety of technique , the squad amount to the appointment of 176,500 geezerhood old , plus or minus 2,100 years .
Each construction is made up of pieces of stalagmite roughly the same size , with social organisation having chunks stacked on top of each and in some display case supported by other piece to cease the “ wall ” from toppling . rule out the architect being a bear , as they do not fit with any other known bear nests , there is only really one other answer .
The rings are found over 300 meters from the entrance to the cave . Etienne FABRE - SSAC
As former Neanderthals were the only homo survive in Europe at the time when the structures were constructed , it seems reasonable to conclude that they were indeed the builder . This is second up by the discovery of charred bone found within one of the little structures , recall to be from either a bear or large herbivore . This make the construction not only the oldest known constructions impute to Neanderthals , but also some of the other known to have been made by hominins .
While the purpose of the structure may remain knotty , there are some hints . Many of the art object of stalagmite seem to have been burnt , and there is even grounds of a fireside within the cave . But what this construction can tell us is how some forms of modern behavior subsist within Neanderthal universe earlier than antecedently thought . To establish them it would expect social organisation , the control of fire , and the exploration and exploitation of cave system .
Only further discoveries of other social organization further within the cave will hint at whether or not the building of the ones so far canvas were opportunistic , or formed part of a regular or planned loutish sojourn to the cave organisation .
