A study published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences reveals evidence that early humans in the Levant engaged in symbolic behavior much earlier than previously believed.
Researchers from Israel, Germany, the United States, and Portugal, including Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger from Hebrew University and Ben Gurion University and Dr. João Marreiros from Monrepos Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioral Evolution, LEIZA, and ICArEHB, University of Algarve, examined five engraved artifacts from Levantine sites. These sites include Manot Cave, Qafzeh Cave, Quneitra, and Amud Cave, with artifacts dating back between 100,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Using 3D surface analysis, the researchers distinguished engravings with geometric patterns from functional marks created through everyday tool use. The findings reveal the intentionality behind the engravings.
"Abstract thinking is a cornerstone of human cognitive evolution. The deliberate engravings found on these artifacts highlight the capacity for symbolic expression and suggest a society with advanced conceptual abilities," said Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger.
Artifacts from Qafzeh Cave, estimated to be 100,000 to 90,000 years old, featured deliberate engravings associated with early modern humans. These are among the oldest known examples of symbolic behavior in the Levant, challenging the view that such behavior emerged only after global colonization by modern humans. Objects from Quneitra, roughly 54,000 years old, and artifacts from Manot Cave, dating to 50,000 to 40,000 years ago, also revealed patterns aligning with the stones' natural surfaces.
In contrast, incisions on artifacts from Amud Cave are shallow, unpatterned, and consistent with functional use as abraders. Amud Cave, dating to approximately 70,000 to 50,000 years ago, is primarily associated with Neanderthal occupation. The differences between the artifacts from these sites emphasize the significance of the engravings found at Qafzeh, Quneitra, and Manot.
"Not only does this methodology reveal the intentional nature of these engravings, but it also provides, for the first time, a comparative framework for studying similar artifacts, enriching our understanding of Middle Paleolithic societies," said Dr. Marreiros.
Until now, the intentionality of Middle Paleolithic incised stone artifacts was broadly accepted but not well-supported by empirical testing. Many archaeologists viewed these marks as functional, created through tool use or natural wear.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Prof. Erella Hovers from Hebrew University and Dr. Eduardo Paixão from ICArEHB, University of Algarve.
While the engraved artifacts from Qafzeh, Quneitra, and Manot are isolated initiatives within their chronological and geographic contexts, the shared traits of the incisions and the similarities in pattern structuring suggest intentional, predetermined actions.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq