A discovery in Maltravieso Cave, located in Extremadura, Spain, has fundamentally challenged long-held beliefs about the origins of human artistic expression.

Panel P III and sample locations for MAL1, MAL22, and MAL23. The left picture shows the original pH๏τo, the right is the same picture after application of DStretch (correlation LDS 15 %). Credit: C. D., Standish et al., Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports (2025)

Researchers have determined that hand stencils in the cave date back over 66,000 years, suggesting that Neanderthals, rather than modern humans, were the world’s first artists. This revelation highlights the advanced cognitive and cultural capabilities of Neanderthals.

The research, conducted by an international team of archaeologists from the University of Southampton and collaborating insтιтutions in Great Britain and Spain, utilized uranium-thorium (U-series) dating to establish the age of the artwork. Their findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, confirm that these hand stencils are among the earliest known examples of intentionally created visual art.

Maltravieso Cave contains over 60 red hand stencils, though their exact ages remained uncertain until now. The U-series dating method, applied to the calcium carbonate crusts that formed over the stencils, revealed minimum ages ranging from the Holocene to the Middle Paleolithic period. The oldest samples date back to 66,700 years, while others are approximately 55,200 and 46,600 years old. This indicates that the Neanderthals likely created the stencils.

Panel GS I and sample locations for MAL6 and MAL7. The left picture shows the original pH๏τo, the right is the same picture after application of DStretch (correlation LDS 15 %). Credit: C. D., Standish et al., Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports (2025)

By analyzing the uranium-to-thorium ratio in calcium carbonate crusts covering ancient cave art, researchers can accurately date the crust. Unlike carbon dating, which is ineffective for mineral-based pigments, U-series dating measures the uranium-to-thorium conversion within calcium carbonate crusts, providing precise minimum ages for the underlying artwork.

Previous discoveries in other Spanish caves, such as La Pasiega, indicated that Neanderthals created symbolic red dot art over 64,800 years ago. Together, these studies build a clearer picture of Neanderthals’ artistic capabilities, challenging the notion that symbolic and creative expression was exclusive to modern humans.

Panel GS V and location of samples MAL8, 10 and 21. Lower image shows the same panel after application of DStretch (Clogg et al. 2000; correlation LDS 15 %). Credit: C. D., Standish et al., Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports (2025)

This discovery also raises questions about the evolution of artistic traditions in Europe. The tradition of creating hand stencils in the region predates similar practices elsewhere. For example, hand stencil art in Indonesia’s Leang Timpuseng Cave was dated to 39,900 years ago, while impressions found on the Tibetan Plateau, approximately 200,000 years old, are still debated as to whether they represent deliberate artistic expression or mere traces of human activity.

The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence that Neanderthals engaged in complex behaviors once attributed solely to Homo sapiens. Neanderthals, often stereotyped as brutish and unsophisticated, are increasingly recognized for their symbolic thinking and cultural achievements. These include tool-making, use of pigments, burial practices, and now, the creation of visual art.

Location of panel GS III from the center of the Galería de la Serpiente (a), and view of the GS III stencils from the cave floor before (b) and after (c) application of DStretch (correlation LDS 15 %). Credit: C. D., Standish et al., Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports (2025)

The Maltravieso stencils demonstrate that artistic traditions existed in Europe tens of thousands of years before similar practices emerged in other parts of the world. While some of the Maltravieso cave art could have been created by modern humans approximately 6,000 years ago, the findings strongly suggest that Neanderthals pioneered these artistic practices. Variations in moisture and carbonate formation over millennia complicate precise dating of certain images, but the evidence overwhelmingly supports Neanderthal authorship of the oldest artwork.

More information: Standish, C. D., Petтιтt, P., Collado, H., Aguilar, J. C., Milton, J. A., García-Diez, M., … Pike, A. W. G. (2025). The age of hand stencils in Maltravieso cave (Extremadura, Spain) established by U-Th dating, and its implications for the early development of art. Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports, 61(104891), 104891. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104891