Archaeologists were astonished when they opened a cave that had been sealed for 40,000 years. Their discoveries are now believed to have significant implications for human history.
Gorham’s Cave in Gibraltar is considered one of the last known habitats of Neanderthals on Earth. The Iberian Peninsula, including Gibraltar, likely provided a refuge for these ancient humans as their global population dwindled.
Gibraltar is renowned for being where the first Neanderthal skull was found in 1848. Previous assumptions suggested Neanderthals died out on the island around 42,000 years ago, but recent exploration of Gorham’s Cave challenges this timeline, suggesting Neanderthals may have inhabited the area as recently as 24,000 years ago.
According to IFLScience, artifacts in Gibraltar indicate that some Neanderthal populations may have survived much longer than previously thought, potentially beyond 40,000 years ago.
In 2016, Gorham’s Cave was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its profound historical significance. The cave was discovered in 1907 by Captain A. Gorham, and subsequent archaeological excavations have revealed a wealth of ancient relics.
Gorham’s Cave, along with three other caves in Gibraltar, is believed to have housed Neanderthals for around 100,000 years. UNESCO’s description highlights the cultural traditions of Neanderthals evident in the caves, such as bird and marine animal hunting, feather ornamentation, and rock engravings.
Recent discoveries in the caves include the world’s oldest abstract art found in Gorham’s Cave in 2012, consisting of crossing lines carved into a rock shelf deep within the cave.
In 2021, a new chamber was uncovered in the adjacent Vanguard Cave, part of the Gorham’s Cave network, containing bones of lynx, hyena, griffon vulture, and a large whelk. Clive Finlayson, from the Gibraltar National Museum, expressed excitement over these findings, indicating human presence dating back over 40,000 years.
He remarked on the rarity of such discoveries, emphasizing the unique opportunity to explore something untouched for millennia.