Neanderthals built massive stone rings in a dark French cave 176,000 years ago
Neanderthals formed six structures from snapped stalagmites inside Bruniquel Cave in southwestern France around 176,500 years ago, including two large rings totaling about 2.2 tonnes. The stones were arranged in darkness, with signs of small fires and burnt bone, yet no tools or human remains were found. Dating of stalagmite tips, regrowth, and burnt calcite all agree on the age, placing this activity well before modern humans reached Europe. The purpose of the rings remains unknown, suggesting complex, deep-cave behavior by Neanderthals that challenges assumptions about their cognitive abilities and cave use.