New archaeological research has unveiled the advanced survival strategies of Neanderthals, revealing they operated a sophisticated ‘fat factory’ by processing animal carcasses for nutrient-rich fat near a lake in Germany.
This discovery, made at the Neumark-Nord site, located south of Halle, comes from the analysis of approximately 120,000 bone fragments and 16,000 flint tools unearthed over several years.
Published in the journal Science Advances, the study points to the systematic extraction of fat from bones, indicating organized hunting, planning, and specialized processing environments.
Neanderthals, who inhabited the region up to 125,000 years ago, utilized stone hammers to break marrow-rich bones and boiled them for hours to obtain the fat, which they could then skim off the surface after cooling.
Co-author Wil Roebroeks, a professor of Paleolithic archaeology at Leiden University, emphasized that this finding dispels the long-held view of Neanderthals as unsophisticated: “This attitude that Neanderthals were dumb — this is another data point that proves otherwise.”
Recent discoveries have steadily reshaped the image of Neanderthals, showing their intelligence and skills. They were known to create items such as yarn, glue, and jewelry from eagle talons, as well as engravings on bone and cave walls.
The new research also illustrates the sophisticated approach the Neanderthals had towards nutrition.
The site reveals that over a period of 300 years, these humans demonstrated an understanding of dietary needs that was critical for health, particularly in the context of their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, which relied largely on animal-based foods.
A diet high in lean meats and low in fats can lead to a serious condition known as protein poisoning, which was previously referred to as ‘rabbit poisoning’ or ‘mal de caribou’ by early European explorers in North America.
Neanderthals, whose average weight ranged from 50 to 80 kilograms (110 to 175 pounds), had to limit their protein intake to avoid this condition.
The research indicates they aimed to keep their protein consumption below 300 grams (about 10 ounces) daily, significantly lower than their daily caloric needs.
Thus, they compensated for this deficiency by sourcing calories from fat and carbohydrates, highlighting the importance of bone marrow and fatty tissues in their diet.
The analysis revealed that most remains discovered belonged to 172 individual large animals, including horses, deer, and extinct aurochs.
Neanderthals selectively chose the longest bones, which contained the richest marrow, to maximize their nutritional output.
While the exact methods used by Neanderthals to process bones remains unclear, the study suggests they may have used birch bark, animal skins, or stomach linings to create containers to boil their finds.
According to co-author Geoff Smith, a senior researcher in zooarchaeology at the University of Reading, they might have consumed the extracted fat as a broth, possibly enriching it with various plants for added flavor and nutrition.
Excavations also unearthed charred remains of hazelnuts, acorns, and sloe plums, which might hint at a varied diet and an understanding of local flora.
The discoveries have led experts to rethink Neanderthal lifestyles, with Smith mentioning, “These weren’t simple hunter-gatherers just getting by day to day — they were master planners who could look ahead, organise complex tasks, and squeeze every last calorie from their environment.”
Independent experts have echoed the significance of these findings.
Ludovic Slimak, an archaeologist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and Paul Sabatier University, noted the research supports long-held suspicions about Neanderthals understanding the value of bone fats and implementing advanced strategies for extraction and processing.
Bruce Hardy, the J. Kenneth Smail Professor of Anthropology at Kenyon College, called the site the best archaeological example of bone-grease rendering from this Stone Age period, emphasizing the impressive combination of evidence presented in the study.
The study of Neumark-Nord is thus a critical contribution to the understanding of Neanderthal dietary practices and their adaptive strategies, providing a clearer picture of their cognitive abilities and complex social organization.
image source from：eastidahonews
