A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggests Neanderthals cooked in a surprising variety of ways.
Analysis of animal bones from two northern Israel caves showed that different groups of prehistoric humans living at roughly the same time processed meat in distinct ways.
“Within the Neanderthal population, several separate groups practiced different food-processing techniques,” said Anael Jallon, lead author of the study.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
Jallon’s team examined cut marks on 249 bone fragments dating to between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago from Amud Cave and on 95 bone fragments dating to between 60,000 and 50,000 years ago from Kebara Cave. The caves are about 70 kilometers apart, and Neanderthals primarily occupied them during the winter. The inhabitants of both caves used similar stone tools, The Guardian reported.
Bone fragments excavated in the 1990s showed charred and fragmented samples were more common at Amud, though both groups ate similar animals, including mountain gazelles and deer.
Archaeologists found bones of large animals such as aurochs more often at Kebara. Jallon cautioned that Kebara samples might be easier to identify, and that Neanderthals from Amud may have processed those animals elsewhere.
The researchers conducted a detailed analysis of cut marks on 43 bone samples from Amud and 34 from Kebara, uncovering several differences.
“Even when comparing just the long bones of gazelles, we found a higher density of cuts on the Amud samples, a greater number of intersecting cuts, fewer straight lines, and more curved ones,” Jallon explained.
The team offered several possible explanations for the variation in markings. The methods could have been influenced by the number of people involved in processing carcasses. The cave dwellers might have processed meat at different stages of decomposition. Different preparation and cooking methods could also reflect differing dietary preferences.
Dr. Matt Pope of University College London, who was not involved in the study, said, “Future research may offer other explanations, but the study is a compelling reminder that Neanderthal culture was not monolithic.” He suggested that nearby groups could have lived close to one another while still practicing different lifestyles.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology.
