A sealed cave dating back 40,000 years reveals new secrets about human history.

 

The Mogul Cave in Gibraltar is rediscovering humanity

A sealed cave dating back 40,000 years reveals new secrets about human history.

A recent archaeological discovery in Gibraltar has sparked interest among archaeologists, after the unveiling of a cave that had remained sealed for about 40,000 years, in a discovery that researchers described as potentially reshaping our understanding of human history.

Gibraltar is a pivotal site for the study of ancient humans, as it was here in 1848 that the first Neanderthal skull in history was discovered. For decades, scientists believed that this human species became extinct in the region around 42,000 years ago, but recent studies conducted in Ghoram Cave have led experts to revise this hypothesis.

Exceptional historical importance

New research suggests that Neanderthals may have survived in Gibraltar as recently as 24,000 years ago, a finding described by scientists as a relatively recent development that could change our understanding of the course of human history.

IFLScience quoted researchers as saying that the belief that Neanderthals went extinct 40,000 years ago may not be accurate, pointing to archaeological evidence discovered in Gibraltar that shows some groups continued for a much longer period.

Ghoram Cave

In 2016, UNESCO inscribed Gurram Cave on its World Heritage List due to its exceptional historical significance. The cave was first discovered in 1907, rediscovered in 1940, and excavation work began four decades later.

Gouram Cave is one of a group of four caves in the limestone cliffs on the eastern side of Gibraltar, along with Vanguard, Hyena and Bennett caves, where it is believed that Neanderthals inhabited the area for about 100,000 years.

UNESCO notes that these caves offer rare testimony to the cultural life of Neanderthals, through evidence of hunting birds and marine creatures, the use of feathers for decoration, and abstract rock carvings.

In-depth archaeological research

Scientific research in these caves has contributed significantly to the study of Neanderthal evolution and its relationship to modern humans, as excavations have revealed charcoal remains, bones, stone tools, and charred seeds. In 2012, archaeologists discovered the oldest known abstract art in the world inside Gurram Cave, consisting of intersecting lines carved into a rock shelf dating back more than 39,000 years, at a depth of approximately 100 meters inside the cave.

In 2021, researchers announced the discovery of a new chamber in the nearby Vanguard Cave containing the bones of predators and a large snail shell. Clive Finlayson, director of the Gibraltar National Museum, explained that the presence of this shell inside the cave, so far from the shore, indicates human activity dating back more than 40,000 years, likely created by Neanderthals. Scientists assert that Gibraltar may be one of the last Neanderthal strongholds in the world, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of the history of their extinction and their interaction with modern humans.