New evidence implies symbolic behavior of Neandertals in form of cave art, previously attributed only to modern humans.

U-Th dating of overlying carbonate precipitates from 3 sites in ?? place art @ ~65ka minimum… ~20ka before modern humans arrived in Europe.

Location, placement & technique of art implies premeditation and symbolic behavior of Neandertals independent of modern human influence.

Scientists determine age of wall ? in Spanish caves. Stone on top of the ? and beneath the ? is used to ascertain age of the ?.

?, ?, ?, ?, and other designs are drawn on the caves’ walls. Age of all ? predates the arrival of humans in Europe. Neanderthals were ??‍?.

This ? proves Neanderthals could ?? before ?ing in caves, and developed ??‍? abilities w/o humans. #NeanderthalArtIsStillBetterThenPiccasso

Laurentide Ice sheet collapse > ❄ global temp & ⬆in ? > expansion of Neolithic farming into Mesolithic hunter gatherer territory

Farmers like lowland, Black Sea flooded by Mediterranean, farmers migrated across continent to find more stable settlements with arable land

Flooding during Holocene drove migration of farming populations, led to continental establishment of farming and onset of Neolithic period.