The discovery of Neanderthal rope, made from twisted plant fibers, reveals much more than just a clever tool—it’s a window into their minds. Dating back 50,000 years, this rope-making skill demonstrates that Neanderthals had a sophisticated understanding of their environment, requiring abstract thinking, planning, and problem-solving. These are abilities once thought to be unique to Homo sapiens.

This discovery suggests that the mental abilities we rely on today—like creativity, innovation, and the ability to manipulate natural materials—were shared with Neanderthals. In fact, these skills likely began evolving in a common ancestor around 440,000 years ago. Neanderthals weren’t just surviving—they were thriving, with minds far more like ours than we ever imagined.

For the story of how human cognitive abilities evolved, watch my The Birth of Language: From Animal to Human video. To read the article that video is based on, take the deep dive: The Evolution of Vocabulary in Ancient Humans.