Additionally, there is increasing evidence showing the Neandertal exploitation of other animals for dietary purposes: leporids 44, 45, 46, birds 47, 48, tortoises 49, 50, river fish 51 or marine resources 52, 53. Ungulates constituted the largest percentage of dietary intake of Neandertals 36, 37, 38, which are considered as top-level predators 39, 40, though vegetables also constituted a significant component of their diet 41, 42, 43. Regarding Neandertal subsistence, direct and indirect evidence of medium- to large-sized ungulate hunting in the Neandertal lineage, sometimes implying complex strategies, was present starting in the Middle Pleistocene 33, 34, 35. In fact, it is likely that the underlying variability in these features is the result of the cultural complexity of Neandertals. It is worth noting that all these features may or not appear together as a bundle. In regard to lithic technology, several features interpreted as markers of modern behavior, such as the use of hafted tools 28, the long distance transport of raw materials 29, the production and use of small tools 30, or the development of blade technologies 31 are more common in Neandertal technology than previously thought 32. From a purely technological point of view, Neandertals mastered the use of fire 24, developed complex technological procedures, such as creating birch glue 25 and started using bone tools more systematically 26, 27. In recent years we have also observed the increasing number of evidence for the practice of non-utilitarian activities, such as the burial of dead 11, 12, artistic behavior 13, 14, the elaboration and display of ornaments 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, the use of pigments 21, 22 or the building up of structures such as the ring from Bruniquel 23. This complexity can also be observed in the way Neandertals managed landscapes and settlements, including habitat structures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. There is anatomical evidence consistent with spoken language, which is the basis for complex cultural transmission and abstract thinking 2, 3, 4, 5. Neandertal behavioral complexity and flexibility is reflected in many aspects of the paleoanthropological record 1. Neandertal behavioral complexity and whether their cognitive capacities parallel those present in modern humans is currently a topic of debate among archaeologists and paleontologists, and it relies on direct and indirect evidence. These new results provide additional information on their dietary scope and indicate a more complex interaction between Neandertals and their environment. This could have brought them closer to Neandertal groups who could have preyed upon them. Corvids, raptors, felids and canids in Axlor could have likely acted as commensals of the Neandertals, scavenging upon the carcasses left behind by these hunter-gatherers. The obtaining of meat was likely the primary purpose of the cut-marks on the golden eagle and lynx remains. We have found cut-marks in two golden eagles, one raven, one wolf and one lynx remain from the Mousterian levels of Axlor. Here we present the first evidence of bird and carnivore exploitation by Neandertals in the Cantabrian region. However, the bird and carnivore exploitation record was hitherto limited to the Mediterranean area of the Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian Peninsula has provided the most abundant record of bird exploitation for meat in Europe, starting in the Middle Pleistocene. Neandertals were top predators who basically relied on middle- to large-sized ungulates for dietary purposes, but there is growing evidence that supports their consumption of plants, leporids, tortoises, marine resources, carnivores and birds.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |