The key finding: New age estimates that show paintings on cave walls and decorated seashells in Spain were created long before our species entered Europe. Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia before disappearing about 40,000 years ago, around the time H. sapiens moved into Europe from Africa. (J. Zilhão)Neanderthals lived in Europe and Asia before disappearing about 40,000 years ago, around the time H. sapiens moved into Europe from Africa. That is some 20,000 to 40,000 years older than comparable artifacts in Africa or western Asia that are attributed to H. sapiens. The finding shows Neanderthals shared symbolic thinking with H. sapiens, and suggests the two species were "indistinguishable" in terms of overall mental ability, the researchers wrote.

Source: CBC News February 22, 2018 20:26 UTC