Neanderthals: Earliest environmental design discovered – A delicious find!

Neanderthals: Earliest environmental design discovered – A delicious find!

The latest archaeological discoveries in the Neumark-Nord region of Central Germany shed new light on the way of life of the Neanderthals. According to a recent study published in Science Advances, the Neanderthals ran a kind of prehistoric “fat factory” around 125,000 years ago. The site, which includes remains from a warm period, shows that Neanderthals developed complex nutritional strategies and carried out highly organized food production.

Over 120,000 bone fragments and more than 16,000 flint tools were discovered at the site, which archaeologists have been studying since the 1980s. The systematic processing of at least 172 large mammals, including animals such as deer, horses and aurochs, shows that Neanderthals obtained energy-rich bone fat. These finds indicate a deep understanding of the ecosystem and careful planning of their hunting strategies.

Insight into the environment and adaptability

125,000 years ago, the Neumark-Nord area was a densely forested area in which prey animals such as horses, elephants and lions lived. The archaeologists, led by Prof. Dr. Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser from the MONREPOS archaeological research center and museum find that the Neanderthals were able to actively shape their environment. They kept the landscape open through regular hunting and the creation of storage depots, which took at least over 2,000 years.

These findings challenge the previous assumption that human influence on the environment only began with the development of agriculture around 10,000 years ago. Previous studies conducted in a brown coal mining area near Halle show that Neanderthals intervened earlier to optimize their survival strategies. After Archeology Online Neumark-Nord deserves the honor of being considered the earliest example of human intervention in the environment.

Complex hunting strategies and dietary diversity

Another aspect of Neanderthal culture can be seen in the diversity of their diet. In addition to large game, they also hunted smaller animals such as ptarmigan and hares, which revises the idea of ​​a severely restricted diet. These finds, recently presented in the “Hohle Fels” cave, require a rethinking of the abilities of Neanderthals. Professor Nicholas Conard, scientific director of the Prehistory Museum in Blaubeuren, emphasizes that the excavations and analogous battle marks destabilize the thesis that Neanderthals died out due to their diet and lack of mental abilities ( Research and teaching ).

Dr. Stefanie Kölbl, director of the museum, notes that Neanderthals' intelligent hunting strategies as well as their need for jewelry and burials speak to their cultural complexity. The interaction of these elements leads to a more comprehensive understanding of their way of life and their ability to adapt to different environmental conditions.

The diverse discoveries both in Neumark-Nord and in other regions make it clear that Neanderthals had a deeper connection to their habitat and their environment than previously assumed.