French cave markings said to be oldest known engravings by Neanderthals

Hundreds of faint stripes, dots and wavy lines at Loire valley site were created more than 57,000 years ago, say scientists

Hundreds of faint stripes, dots and wavy lines that adorn a cave wall in central France are the oldest known engravings made by Neanderthals, according to scientists who analysed the ancient markings.

The patterns, called finger flutings, appear on sections of the longest and most even wall of the cave in La Roche-Cotard in the Loire valley, and were created more than 57,000 years ago, before modern humans arrived in the region, the researchers say.

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