Ancient Neanderthals Had 'Fat Factory' for Food, Study Shows

The Neanderthals, our closest extinct relatives, have been a subject of fascination as we delve into history. In a recent discovery, researchers found evidence of an ancient Neanderthal 'fat factory' in Germany. This factory, dating back around 125,000 years, was a site where Neanderthals processed bones of large mammals to extract valuable bone marrow and grease for food.

This discovery marks the earliest evidence of sophisticated bone processing by Neanderthals, predating similar activities by our species in Europe by about 100,000 years. The findings suggest that Neanderthals were skilled at managing resources, planning hunts, and efficiently accessing nutritional fat.

The research was conducted at the Neumark-Nord site in Germany, revealing over 100,000 bone fragments from large mammals with cut marks and signs of deliberate butchering. The evidence points to systematic and organized bone processing on a large scale, showcasing Neanderthals' advanced capabilities.

Studies continue to unveil the intelligence and skills of Neanderthals, showing they were adept at various activities. Despite their capabilities, Homo sapiens thrived while Neanderthals eventually became extinct. The Neumark-Nord site offers a unique opportunity to study how Neanderthals interacted with their environment, paving the way for future research.

The research has been published in Science Advances.

According to the source: ScienceAlert.