While their purpose is unclear, they are among the oldest-known constructions by a human species.
The scientists attributed the work to Neanderthals, who thrived in Europe at the time but vanished roughly 40,000 years ago, after our species Homo sapiens, which first appeared in Africa about 200,000 years ago, trekked into Europe.
The six short-walled structures were built with pieces of stalagmites, rock formations made of mineral deposits from water dripping onto a cave floor. The two ring-shaped ones measured 22-by-15 feet (6.7-by-4.5 meters) and 7.2-by-6.9 feet (2.2-by-2.1 meters). All six had traces of fire.
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