None
EN
Rock crystal scraper: 45,000-year-old Neanderthal tool that shows they had an 'eye for beauty of form and color'
['Kristina Killgrove', 'Laura Geggel', 'Laura Mondragón', 'Staff Writer', 'Layer Van-Ds .Vds-Author Font-Size Var --Text-Base', 'Font-Size Var --Vds-Author-Font-Size', 'Var --Text-Base', 'Line-Height Var --Text-Base--Line-Height', 'Line-Height Var --Vds-Author-Line-Height', 'Var --Text-Base--Line-Height']
Latest from Live Science
But a small handful of Neanderthal sites in Europe have yielded tools made from microcrystalline quartz, also known as rock crystal, resulting in stunningly clear scrapers and points.
Latest Videos From Live Science Watch full video here:According to MacCurdy's April 1931 excavation report , this was the first rock crystal tool the team discovered.
In addition to six other rock crystal tools, MacCurdy found tiny rock crystal chips that meant the tools were likely fashioned on-site in the cave.
However, based on stratigraphy, tool types and the presence of a Neanderthal molar , the rock crystal tools were likely made between 45,000 and 80,000 years ago.
MacCurdy, however, saw the rock crystal tools as an indication that Neanderthals had a sense of aesthetics.