Rare Archaeological Site Reveals Surprising Neanderthal Behavior at Pyrenees Foothills

An unexplored region in the Southern Pyrenees foothills of Spain is shedding light on a little-known era of Neanderthal history. This research from The Australian National University (ANU) may uncover clues regarding the decline of Neanderthals. The study appears in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

A Unique Site

Abric Pizarro is among the few locations globally that date back to 100,000 to 65,000 years ago during MIS 4. Investigators have collected hundreds of thousands of artifacts, including stone tools, animal bones, and other evidence, which reveal significant insights into Neanderthal lifestyles.

The findings highlight Neanderthals' ability to adapt to their environment. This challenges the stereotype of slow-moving cavemen and provides new perspectives on their survival and hunting abilities.

Evidence of Adaptation

Lead author and archaeologist Dr. Sofia Samper Carro states that these findings indicate the resilience of Neanderthals in harsh climatic conditions.

"Our surprising findings at Abric Pizarro demonstrate how adaptable Neanderthals were. The animal bones indicate they successfully exploited the local fauna," she noted. Neanderthals hunted red deer, horses, and bison, but consumed freshwater turtles and rabbits as well. This versatility suggests advanced planning, often overlooked in studies of Neanderthals.

The findings contradict common assumptions that Neanderthals primarily hunted large prey like horses and rhinoceroses.

"We find exact proof through discovered bones, which show cut marks from small animal hunting," Dr. Samper Carro explained. The well-preserved bones allow scrutiny of how Neanderthals processed these animals.

Insights for Archaeologists

The analysis of stone artifacts indicates a variety in tool types, which reflects Neanderthals' ability to utilize local resources. Understanding this period helps archaeologists address a long-standing question regarding Neanderthal extinction.

The existence of sites like Abric Pizarro offers critical information on how Neanderthals thrived in environments lacking modern humans.

"The site shows glimpses of Neanderthal behavior in an area they've frequented for millennia," Dr. Samper Carro explained. "Neanderthals vanished around 40,000 years ago, but they lived in Europe for almost 300,000 years beforehand. They knew how to survive and adapt."

"We create 3D plots for every remain larger than one to two centimeters. Although this slows our work, it results in precise recording," remarked Dr. Samper Carro.

The goal is to understand the interrelations of data such as stone tools and hearths, offering insight into Neanderthal habits and longevity within an area.

"It's not just the materiality but its context that aids our understanding of Neanderthal visits—whether they settled or simply passed through," she added.

This valuable information comes from a collaboration with scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (CEPAP-UAB).

Earlier SSP reported that scientists discovered oceans of water deep beneath Mars.