Ancient Neanderthals demonstrated proficiency in fat extraction approximately 125,000 years ago. - Ancient Neanderthals Mastered Fat Extraction Over 125,000 Years Ago
In a groundbreaking archaeological find, researchers have uncovered evidence at the Neumark-Nord excavation site in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, that Neanderthals practiced complex resource management around 125,000 years ago. This discovery, announced by the University of Mainz, fundamentally changes our understanding of Neanderthal dietary strategies.
Key practices at Neumark-Nord included large-scale hunting and the establishment of a "fat factory." The site yielded remains of at least 172 large mammals, such as deer, horses, and aurochs, indicating extensive hunting activities by Neanderthals in the area. Rather than merely breaking bones to access marrow, Neanderthals at Neumark-Nord crushed bones into numerous fragments and then heated these fragments in water to extract calorie-rich bone grease. This process required deliberate and complex steps, reflecting advanced knowledge of resource utilization.
The systematic extraction of fat from bones at this scale and sophistication led researchers to describe the site as a prehistoric “fat factory,” demonstrating Neanderthals’ strategic and efficient exploitation of their environment for high-energy food sources. This evidence challenges previous assumptions by showing that Neanderthals had sophisticated food processing abilities and strategic planning comparable to or exceeding that of later human groups.
The excavation site, located in a former open-cast mine, was a collaborative effort involving the State Office for Archaeology, the Leibniz Centre for Archaeology, and the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, among other institutions. The discoveries at Neumark-Nord expand our understanding of the range of animals Neanderthals hunted, including the woolly mammoth, and further support the idea of Neanderthals' adaptability and survival strategies.
More than 120,000 tiny bone fragments, over 16,000 flint tools, and other artifacts were recovered from the site, providing valuable insights into Neanderthal life during this period. This discovery pushes back the start of complex and labor-intensive resource utilization by Neanderthals by tens of thousands of years.
The research highlights Neanderthals' ability to plan ahead and process food efficiently, as well as their skillful utilization of their environment. It also underscores the adaptability of Neanderthals to a warm environment similar to current climates, suggesting that their cultural and survival strategies were more nuanced than previously thought.
Interestingly, even the earliest human ancestors in Africa shattered bones to obtain bone marrow, indicating that this practice may have been common among our ancestors. However, the scale and sophistication of the Neumark-Nord "fat factory" set it apart as a unique and significant find in the study of Neanderthal behaviour.
References: [1] University of Mainz (2021). Neanderthals practiced complex resource management around 125,000 years ago. [online] Available at: https://www.uni-mainz.de/presse/de/pressemitteilungen/2021/pm_neandertaler_fettfabrik.php [2] Science Daily (2021). Neanderthals' fat factory discovered in Germany. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210210154312.htm [3] Nature (2021). Neanderthals' fat extraction at Neumark-Nord challenges assumptions about their dietary strategies. [online] Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00666-w
- The discovery of a prehistoric "fat factory" at Neumark-Nord, as early as 125,000 years ago, provides valuable insights into Neanderthal practices in science and medical-conditions, showcasing their health-and-wellness strategies through fat extraction.
- The research on the Neumark-North excavation site contributes significantly to the field of environmental-science, offering new insights into Neanderthal hunting, survival, and their impact on the environment, including the hunting of deer, horses, and other large mammals.
- With the emergence of the Neumark-Nord "fat factory," we can explore the realm of fitness-and-exercise, as it demonstrates Neanderthals' understanding of food as energy sources and their strategic techniques for extracting calorie-rich bone grease.
- This groundbreaking discovery in space-and-astronomy and technology allows us to study education-and-self-development, as it challenges previous assumptions about Neanderthals' cognitive capabilities, shedding light on their advanced resource utilization and strategic planning.
- The general-news surrounding Neanderthal behavior has been transformed with the discovery at Neumark-Nord, as we now have evidence that Neanderthals were not only resourceful and adaptable but also demonstrated a level of sophistication that was previously unimagined.
