60,000-year-old ostrich eggshell engravings reveal a surprisingly sophisticated human mind

60,000 years ago, long before classrooms existed, humans may already have been thinking like this, study suggests

Engravings on ostrich eggshells dating back around 60,000 years may offer new clues about the cognitive abilities of early humans. Researchers from the University of Bologna analysed 112 fragments from archaeological sites in South Africa and Namibia and found recurring geometric patterns, parallel lines and near-right angles. The findings suggest ancient humans could organise shapes according to consistent rules, offering a glimpse into the dee…

Intricate Carvings in Ostrich Eggshells are 60,000 Years Old – and Reveal ‘Remarkable’ Human Thinking

Dating back more than 60,000 years ago, humans in southern Africa were engraving ostrich eggshells with intricate geometric patterns that—the longer we study them—look more organized than we previously realized. A new analysis of the markings found on hundreds of eggshell fragments has revealed our ancestors’ remarkable ability to organize visual space according to abstract […] The post Intricate Carvings in Ostrich Eggshells are 60,000 Years Ol…

60,000-year-old ostrich eggshell engravings reveal a surprisingly sophisticated human mind

More than 60,000 years ago, humans in southern Africa were engraving ostrich eggshells with intricate geometric patterns that appear far more organized than previously realized. Researchers found recurring grids, parallel lines, right angles, and repeated shapes, suggesting the designs followed deliberate rules rather than being improvised. The engravers may even have planned entire patterns in their minds before carving them.