A possible kneeprint left by a Neanderthal has been found in clay inside Bruniquel cave in south-west France. The impression dates to around 175,000 years ago and sits close to circular structures built from broken stalagmites.
The structures were first discovered in the 1990s and described in a 2016 study. Sophie Verheyden of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences said the mark could be a kneeprint but called it a hypothesis that requires further comparison with modern impressions in clay. A thin layer of calcium carbonate covers the print, confirming its ancient origin, and a bear specialist ruled out an animal trace.