World's Oldest Human Fingerprint Found on 43,000-Year-Old Painted Pebble
In a discovery rewriting the timeline of symbolic behavior in early humans, archaeologists in Spain have identified what is now considered the oldest known human fingerprint—left in ochre pigment by a Neanderthal on a granite pebble approximately 43,000 years ago. The extraordinary find was unearthed in the San Lázaro rock shelter, located in the city of Segovia, and is being hailed as a milestone in the study of prehistoric cognition and culture.
The discovery is the result of a collaboration between researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid, the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC), the University of Salamanca, and the Scientific Police of Spain, with scientific coordination led by Dr. Daniel Álvarez-Alonso and Dr. Miguel de Andrés-Herrero.
A Symbolic Act Etched in Time
The object in question is a granite pebble, deliberately placed in the shelter by Neanderthals and marked with a red ochre dot - a pigment long associated with symbolic expression. Embedded within the painted surface, researchers identified a Neanderthal fingerprint, preserved by accident or intention in the still-wet pigment.
A. The object before being fully excavated; B. Once unearthed, it is possible to appreciate the three main cavities and the central position of the red dot (Álvarez-Alonso et al, 2025/CC BY 4.0)
Using multispectral imaging, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and forensic dermatoglyphic analysis, the team conclusively identified the pattern as a human fingerprint. According to the research published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, this is the oldest known example of such an imprint and the first confirmed to be left by a Neanderthal.
“This discovery represents not only the earliest human fingerprint but also compelling evidence of symbolic behavior in the last Neanderthals of the Iberian Peninsula,” said Dr. Álvarez-Alonso, co-author of the study.
“The use of pigment and the intentional placement of the object suggest abstract thought and possibly even communication through symbolism.”
Left; Detail of the red dot obtained after using a photogrammetric process to document the pebble in 3DRight; Dermatoglyphic image obtained by the multispectral analysis of the red dot (Álvarez-Alonso et al, 2025/CC BY 4.0)
Evidence of Symbolic Intelligence
The fingerprint on the pebble stands out as more than just an accidental imprint. The object's analysis revealed it had been manipulated in a non-utilitarian context - strengthening the interpretation that it was part of a ritual or symbolic act, possibly related to Neanderthal identity, status, or spiritual beliefs.
“This object tells us that Neanderthals were not the brutish beings once thought,” added Dr. Andrés-Herrero. “They were capable of abstract thinking, of attributing meaning to objects, and of preserving that meaning through deliberate acts.”
Global Significance
The San Lázaro discovery places Segovia, Spain, and the wider Castilla y León region, at the forefront of prehistoric archaeology in Europe. The site has been investigated since 2012 under the “First Settlers of Segovia” project, with support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
According to the CSIC, the pebble and its symbolic marking offer an unparalleled glimpse into the cultural mindscape of Neanderthals in Western Europe. It provides concrete evidence that these hominins were not only biologically close to Homo sapiens but also shared cognitive capacities that enabled symbolic thought – long considered a hallmark of modern human behavior.
“This fingerprint is more than a mark on stone,” said co-author Dr. Antonio Díez-Herrero. “It’s a message across time—a trace of intentionality, ritual, and identity left by a hand long gone.”
Top image: Left; the red dot on a stone, found to be a fingerprint. Right; Sample zones in the red dot. Source: Photos by Pedro A. Saura Ramos/ Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
By Gary Manners
