Ancient rock symbol discovered in Marbella, Spain

A rock in Spain may hold one of the oldest symbols made by early humans. The boulder, found in Marbella, has engraved lines that could be around 200,000 years old. This would make it much older than the oldest known cave paintings. The rock was uncovered at the Coto Correa site, a place known for its importance to prehistoric humans. It is made of a type of rock called gabbro and features two straight lines carved into its surface. The boulder was discovered in 2022 along with ancient stone tools, linking it to early human inhabitants. Researchers believe that these engravings indicate the ability to communicate and share information, a sign of modern human thinking. While animals have ways to communicate, the ability to think symbolically seems to be unique to humans. Plans are in place for researchers to scan the boulder in 3D and take samples to verify its age. If the lines are confirmed to be man-made, it could change our understanding of human history and where our ancestors lived. The markings would be compared to the earliest handprints found on the Tibetan plateau, dating back between 169,000 to 226,000 years. These prints show clear signs of intent, unlike simple footprints. Similar finds in China from around 100,000 years ago suggest that other ancient human relatives like Neanderthals may have also created symbolic marks.