Indian army soldiers evacuate flood-affected people in Jammu, India, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Heavy monsoon rains have caused flash floods and landslides that left more than 100 people dead in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and in eastern Pakistan, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Press Trust of India)

An aerial view of the banks of the Tawi River that was damaged in the floods on the outskirts of Jammu, India, Sunday, Sept.7, 2014. The flooding, the worst in 50 years, has killed more than a hundred people across the Himalayan region. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Kashmiri men move with their cattle towards safer area in Srinagar, India, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Heavy monsoon rains have caused flash floods and landslides that left more than 100 people dead in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and in eastern Pakistan, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Kashmiri men move with their cattle towards safer area in Srinagar, India, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Heavy monsoon rains have caused flash floods and landslides that left more than 100 people dead in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and in eastern Pakistan, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Pakistani rescue workers evacuate villagers from an area flooded by rain in Sodran village, some 100 kilometers (65 miles) north of Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. Heavy monsoon rains and flash floods have killed more than 100 people in Pakistan officials said Saturday, as forecasters warned of more rain in the coming days and troops raced to evacuate people from deluged areas. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Youths wade through floodwater following heavy monsoon rains in Wazirabad, some 100 kilometers (65 miles) north of Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. The rains have triggered landslides and flash floods killing hundreds of people in large swathes of northern India and Pakistan, officials said Sunday. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Discovery is a significant shift in our understanding of human development, say experts

Stephen Burgen in Barcelona
The Guardian, Tuesday 2 September 2014

The oldest known example of abstract art has been discovered in a cave in Gibraltar. The work, a series of criss-crossed lines cut into stone, was carried out 40,000 years ago.

The work was created by Neanderthals, precursors of modern humans, who until now had been considered incapable of abstract thought and expression.

“Creating paintings or carvings in caves is seen as a cognitive step in human development,” said Prof Joaquín Rodríguez-Vidal of the University of Huelva – one of the researchers whose study of the cave was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.

Rock engravings in Gibraltar could be proof that Neanderthals were more intelligent than previously thought. Photograph: Stuart Finlayson/AP

“This behaviour was considered exclusive to modern humans and has been used as an argument to distinguish our direct ancestors from ancient man, including Neanderthals.”

The discovery is “a major contribution to the redefinition of our perception of Neanderthal culture”, prehistorian William Rendu, of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, told the Wall Street Journal. “It is new and even stronger evidence of the Neanderthal capacity for developing complex symbolic thought.”

The work, uncovered in 2012 and measuring about 10 sq ft, consists of eight lines cut deep into the rock that is arranged in two groups of three long cuts and two shorter ones.

What the engraving signifies is open to conjecture. “At this point we can only guess at its meaning,” said Rodríguez-Vidal. “However, the engraving in the cave is the first directly demonstrable example of an abstract work, carried out consistently and with care and requiring prolonged and concentrated work, that has been produced in a cave.”

Found alongside the engravings were 294 stone tools in undisturbed sediment dating back 39,000 years – about the time when Neanderthals became extinct – meaning the art below it must be older.

The tools are made in a signature Neanderthal style of a type that has never been found at a modern human site, the researchers say.

The Neanderthals reached Europe from Africa some 300,000 years ago.

Simone Battle, a U.S. ‘X Factor’ finalist and member of pop group G.R.L., was found dead in her West Hollywood home on Friday. The singer was 25.

TMZ reports Battle was found hanging on a rod in the closet of her bedroom around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

A spokeswoman for the LAPD could not confirm the details of Battle’s death when TheWrap reached out for comment. Battle’s record company, however, confirmed her passing and released a statement to the media.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 20: Singer Simone Battle, of G.R.L., leaves the “Good Morning America” taping at the ABC Times Square Studios on August 20, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/GC Images)

Caption: FILE – In this Tuesday, July 22, 2014 file photo, Simone Battle of the band G.R.L. at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. Battle was found dead in her West Hollywood, Calif., home Friday morning, Sept. 5, 2014. Battle gained notoriety through performances on the television show “X Factor,” and her band G.R.L. had been signed by mega-hit maker Dr. Luke. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department says an autopsy will be performed Sunday. (AP Photo/Casey Curry/Invision/AP, File)

AP, September 6, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Girl group singer Simone Battle was found dead in her West Hollywood home, authorities said Saturday.

Battle, 25, gained notoriety through performances on the television show “X Factor.” Her five-member band — G.R.L., originally a reboot of the Pussycat Dolls — had been signed by mega-hit maker Dr. Luke.

Battle was found at home Friday, according to Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department Lt. David Smith. No further details were released. An autopsy was expected Sunday.

In a written statement, G.R.L.’s record companies RCA and Kemosabe called Battle an exceptional young talent and human being.

The group was featured on rapper Pitbull’s hit song “Wild Wild Love” earlier this year. Battle told The Associated Press in July that the collaboration gave the group a platform to launch its debut single, “Ugly Heart.”

Pitbull “has so many hits and he’s really done a great job … showing us the ropes,” Battle said. “This was the first time that we heard ourselves on the radio together.”

These are a few wonderful pairs in this world,
Heart and beats, Night and moon,
Fish and water, Flowers and colours,
My message and your smiles.

~sms4smile

Jendhamuni and Chip September 4, 2014 in downtown Lowell

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