Final answer:
Cave paintings gave early humans an advantage over Neanderthals by enhancing communication and symbolic thinking through visual representations.a) Enhancing communication and symbolic thinking; depictions were abstract
Step-by-step explanation:
Cave paintings were part of a cultural toolkit that gave our ancestors an advantage over Neanderthals by enhancing communication and symbolic thinking. These paintings served as a way for early humans to convey messages and ideas through visual representations. The depictions in cave paintings were often abstract, utilizing symbols and signs to convey meaning.