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Mysterious stone rings allegedly built by Neanderthals were discovered by researchers in a cave located in France. It was revealed on analysis with dating techniques that the ring structures could have been built 175,000 years ago.

The ring structures were built using stalagmites, the calcium- mineral deposits that are found on the floors of the caves. Around 400 stalagmites broken off from the cave floors were arranged on top of one another to build rudimentary walls on the damp floors.

One of the prominent structures includes two ringed wall, which is around four layers deep built with the help of stalagmites wedged to make vertical stays. A 40 cm high wall which is seven meters in length is the largest wall as well as the structure built by Neanderthal men in the Bruniquel Cave in South-West France.

"Their presence at 336m from the entrance of the cave indicates that humans from this period had already mastered the underground environment, which can be considered a major step in human modernity," the researchers write in their study, which is published in the journal Nature, according to BBC.

An archaeologist at Leiden University, Marie Soressi, who did not take part in the study, the structures are very mysterious and they are very different from those that have been found by far. Some parts of the stalagmites also have visible fire damage that makes the researchers suspect if the Neanderthals had fireplaces to illuminate the cave.

"If there is still-buried debris from occupation, it would help us to determine whether this was a functional refuge or shelter, perhaps roofed using wood and skins, or something which had more symbolic or ritual significance," said Prof Chris Stringer, of London's Natural History Museum, noted BBC.

Neanderthal men lived in Eurasia about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago and eventually die after the entry of modern humans into the region, reported The Guardian. The recent discovery proves that Neanderthals are much skilled than predicted by people by far.

"Some of the burning must surely be associated with lighting in such a dark location, but only further discoveries from this or other sites will show us how common were such deep cave occupations in the ancient past, and what their purpose might have been," Stringer added.