Ancient ostrich eggshell engravings reveal advanced human cognition

Researchers from the University of Bologna have analyzed hundreds of ostrich eggshell fragments dating back over 60,000 years, revealing sophisticated geometric engravings produced by early Homo sapiens in southern Africa.

Using new geometric and statistical analysis on 112 fragments from sites in South Africa (Diepkloof and Klipdrift) and Namibia (Apollo 11), the study found that the markings were not random. Instead, they followed organized principles including parallelisms, grids, rotations, and systematic repetitions. The study, published in PLOS One, indicates that more than 80% of the configurations contained consistent spatial patterns, such as angles near 90 degrees.

Professor Silvia Ferrara, who coordinated the study, noted that the engravings suggest a high level of visuo-spatial planning. "We are talking about people who did not simply draw lines, but organized them according to recurring principles — parallelisms, grids, rotations and systematic repetitions: a visual grammar in embryo," Ferrara stated. The eggshells were likely used as water containers.