World’s oldest human fingerprint found — Made by a Neanderthal 43,000 years ago

Microscopic analysis of the red dot uncovered whorl patterns left by a Neanderthal fingerprint around 43,000 years ago (Image: Álvarez-Alonso et al. 2025; CC BY 4.0)

A small red dot on a potato-shaped stone has sparked fresh curiosity among scientists studying Neanderthal life. Discovered in Spain, the mark might be the oldest human fingerprint ever found, dating back around 43,000 years.

The pebble, uncovered at San Lázaro rock shelter near Segovia, appears to carry a fingerprint made with red ochre. Researchers believe it was placed by a Neanderthal and possibly meant to symbolise a nose on a face-shaped rock.

Is it Symbolic or Simply Deliberate?

The study was published on 5 May in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. It suggests the red mark could be one of Europe’s oldest symbolic objects. Some scientists believe it challenges the long-held idea that Neanderthals lacked symbolic thinking.

However, not everyone agrees. Experts who were not part of the study remain cautious. Bruce Hardy, an anthropologist from Ohio, said the mark was clearly intentional, but its deeper meaning is uncertain. “I didn’t see a face,” he said. “Symbolism is often in the eye of the beholder.”

A: the rock before it was fully excavated. B: the face-shaped rock and the red dot "nose."

A: the rock before it was fully excavated. B: the face-shaped rock and the red dot "nose." ( Álvarez-Alonso et al. 2025; CC BY 4.0)

Face, Navel or Something Else Entirely?

The ochre fingerprint was found on a granite pebble about 15 centimetres long. It has natural indentations that resemble eyebrows, with the red dot placed just below. Scientists from Spain’s National Research Council say this transforms the object into a crude human face.

Forensic analysis showed the pigment had a distinct whorl pattern. It was likely made by an adult male Neanderthal. Researchers believe the pebble was brought from a nearby river, chosen for its shape, and deliberately marked.

Palaeolithic archaeologist Rebecca Wragg Sykes agrees the find is intriguing. But she suggested the red mark could be a navel if the stone were turned the other way. “We can’t really say what it is meant to ‘be’,” she said.

More Questions Than Answers

Archaeologist Paul Pettitt of Durham University described the dot as a clear example of Neanderthal use of red pigment. But he admitted it was hard to say if the mark truly held symbolic meaning.

The rock’s only visible purpose, according to psychologist and cave art expert Derek Hodgson, seems to be its visual appeal. He noted that the object resembled a face only after the red dot was applied.

The discovery adds to a growing collection of Neanderthal artefacts without obvious function. Whether or not they carried meaning remains open to debate. Yet one thing is clear: our ancient cousins may have seen and shaped the world in ways we’re only beginning to understand.