Căn phòng bí mật 40,000 năm tuổi được phát hiện tại Khu phức hợp hang động của Gorham

Trên bờ biển đầy đá của Gibraltar, các nhà khảo cổ học đã phát hiện ra một căn phòng mới trong hệ thống hang động từng là nơi lui tới của một số người Neanderthal cuối cùng còn sống sót ở châu Âu.

A cave chamber sealed off by sand for some 40,000 years was discovered in Vanguard Cave in Gibraltar — a finding that could reveal more about the Neanderthals who lived in the area around that time.

Gorham's Cave Complex: The most convincing evidence that this part of the cave was used by Neandtherals is the shell of a large whelk, an edible type of sea snail. © Image credit: Alan Clarke/Shutterstock
Gorham’s Cave is a sea-level cave in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Though not a sea cave, it is often mistaken for one. Considered to be one of the last known habitations of the Neanderthals in Europe, the cave gives its name to the Gorham’s Cave complex, which is a combination of four distinct caves of such importance that they are combined into a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one in Gibraltar. From left to right: Gorham’s Cave, Vanguard Cave, Hyaena Cave and Bennett’s Cave. © Image credit: Alan Clarke/Shutterstock

“Given that the sand sealing the chamber was 40,000 years old, and that the chamber was, therefore, older, it must have been Neanderthals, who lived in Eurasia from about 200,000 to 40,000 years ago and were likely using the cave,” Clive Finlayson, director of the Gibraltar National Museum, nói.

While Finlayson’s team was studying the cave in September 2021, they discovered the hollow area. After climbing through it, they found it is 13 meters (43 feet) in length, with stalactites hanging like eerie icicles from the chamber ceiling.

The Vanguard Cave, part of the Gorham ’s Cave Complex.
Inside view of the Vanguard Cave, part of the Gorham ’s Cave Complex. © Ancient Origin

Along the surface of the cave chamber, the researchers found the remains of lynx, hyenas and griffon vultures, as well as a large whelk, a type of sea snail that was likely carried into the chamber by a Neanderthal, the archaeologists said in a statement.

The researchers were eager to see what they will find once they start excavating. One possibility is that the team will discover Neanderthal burials, Finlayson said. “We found the milk tooth of a 4-year-old Neanderthal close to the chamber four years ago,” he said.

The tooth “was associated with hyenas, and we suspect the hyenas brought the child [who was likely dead] into the cave.”

It takes a long time to complete such archaeological excavations. Researchers have discovered plenty of evidence of Neanderthals’ presence in the cave system, called the Gorham’s Cave Complex, including a carving that may have been early Neanderthal artwork.

In July 2012, the floor of one of the Gorham’s caves was found to be deeply scratched. Researchers uncovered a series of criss-crossing lines over ~1 square meter, cut into the surface of a ledge about 100 meters from its entrance.

The scratched floor of Gorham's Cave
The scratched floor of Gorham’s Cave. © Wikimedia Commons

The scratches consist of eight lines arranged in two groups of three long lines and intersected by two shorter ones, which has been used to suggest it is a symbol. The scratches are thought to be at least 39,000 years old, because they were found below a layer of undisturbed sediment of that age in which hundreds of Neanderthal stone tools were discovered. The attribution of the scratches to Neanderthals is disputed.

In addition, findings have suggested that, at this cave system, our closest extinct relatives butchered seals, plucked feathers off birds of prey to wear as ornaments and used tools, previously reported.

Scientists have speculated that this cave system may have been one of the last places Neanderthals lived before they went extinct around 40,000 years ago.