Science Daily
60,000-year-old ostrich eggshell engravings reveal a surprisingly sophisticated human mind
2026-08-09
Researchers analyzed 60,000-year-old ostrich eggshell fragments from southern Africa engraved with geometric patterns including grids, parallel lines, and right angles. The designs show evidence of deliberate planning and repeated rules rather than improvisation.
Why It Matters
The artifacts provide direct archaeological evidence of advanced symbolic cognition and planned artistic behavior among early modern humans in Africa during the Middle Stone Age.
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