A recent study has shed new light on the cognitive and cultural complexity of human societies during the Middle Paleolithic in the Levant. The research, led by Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger (Hebrew University and Ben-Gurion University) and Dr. João Marreiros (Monrepos Archaeological Research Center and University of the Algarve), in collaboration with Prof. Erella Hovers (Hebrew University) and Dr. Eduardo Paixão (University of the Algarve), has demonstrated that certain incised stone artifacts found in the caves of Manot, Qafzeh, and Quneitra were deliberately engraved with geometric patterns. These findings suggest that early humans possessed an advanced capacity for abstract thinking and symbolic behavior.
Historically, the interpretation of incisions on lithic artifacts from the Middle Paleolithic has been a subject of debate. To date, many archaeologists attributed these marks to functional uses, resulting from natural wear or the use of tools.
It was believed that symbolic expression, such as art or abstract communication, emerged at a later stage of human evolution, exclusively linked to modern Homo sapiens. However, this new study challenges that conception, providing empirical evidence that supports the intentionality of these engravings and their possible symbolic function.
To carry out this analysis, the researchers examined artifacts from major Levantine sites, including the Manot Cave, Amud Cave, Qafzeh Cave, and the open-air site of Quneitra. Using advanced 3D surface analysis technology, they studied the geometry and organization of the incisions, allowing them to differentiate between intentional engravings and functional marks.
The study’s results revealed significant differences between artifacts from different sites. Those from Manot, Qafzeh, and Quneitra exhibit deliberate engravings with well-defined geometric patterns, aligned with the topography of the stone surfaces. These characteristics suggest an aesthetic and symbolic purpose, reinforcing the idea that the hominins who made them possessed advanced cognitive abilities. In contrast, the incisions found on artifacts from Amud Cave are superficial, lack defined patterns, and appear to have been generated by the functional use of the stones as abrasive tools.
Dr. Mae Goder-Goldberger highlights the significance of these findings, stating: Abstract thought is a fundamental pillar in human cognitive evolution. The deliberate incisions on these artifacts reflect the capacity for symbolic expression and suggest that these societies already possessed advanced conceptual skills.
Dr. João Marreiros, on the other hand, emphasizes the methodological value of the study: The methodology employed has not only allowed us to confirm the intentional nature of these engravings but has also, for the first time, provided a comparative framework for studying similar artifacts. This enriches our understanding of Middle Paleolithic societies.
While the engravings found in Qafzeh, Quneitra, and Manot may seem like isolated initiatives within their geographic and temporal context, the similarities in pattern structure suggest a premeditated and repeated action. This finding reinforces the idea that these human groups had structured thinking and possibly shared cultural norms related to symbolic representation.
The research represents a significant step in understanding symbolic behavior in early hominins and helps bridge the gap between the functional use of tools and abstract expression. The presence of intentional engravings in the Middle Paleolithic suggests that the capacity for symbolic thinking developed earlier than previously believed, providing a richer and more nuanced perspective on the cultural and cognitive evolution of our ancestors.
SOURCES
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Goder-Goldberger, M., Marreiros, J., Paixão, E. et al. Incised stone artefacts from the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic and human behavioural complexity. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 17, 27 (2025). doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-02111-4
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