[ad_1]
A former camp where Neanderthals organized “hunting parties” to track down large bovids and deer 76,000 years ago has been discovered in Madrid.
Covering an area of 3,200 square feet (300 m2), archaeologists believe it could be the largest such camp in the Iberian Peninsula region.
They believe he may have served as an intermediary between the Neanderthals hunting their prey and the place of final consumption, where the whole group would benefit from the resources that the hunting parties had gathered.
Results: A former camp where Neanderthals organized “hunting parties” to track down large bovids and deer 76,000 years ago has been discovered in Madrid. Animal remains (pictured) recovered from the site helped archaeologists identify the camp
Covering an area of 3,200 square feet (300 m2), archaeologists believe the Abrigo de Navalmaíllo site in Pinilla del Valle, Madrid (pictured) may be the largest such camp in the Iberian Peninsula region
Faunal remains from the Navalmaíllo site include: a) the jawbone of a large bovid; b) rhinoceros molar; c) horse molar; d) molar hyena; e) stone tool cut marks, and f) percussion mark to access the marrow of a long bone
The taphonomic study of the fauna at the Abrigo de Navalmaíllo site showed that it matched remains found in similar hunting camps, but not those from previously identified Neanderthal residential camps (pictured above)
A wildlife analysis at the Abrigo de Navalmaíllo site in Pinilla del Valle, Madrid helped researchers make the find. This examines the whole process of what happens after an organism dies and eventually becomes a fossil.
“We were able to demonstrate with great certainty that the Neanderthals of Navalmaíllo mainly hunted the large bovids and deer that they treated at the site and that they would later move to a second place of reference,” said Abel Moclán , lead author of the study and a researcher at the National Center for Research on Human Evolution.
“This aspect is very interesting, because there are very few deposits in the Iberian Peninsula where this type of behavior has been identified.
“For all of this, we used very powerful statistical tools, such as artificial intelligence.”
Archaeologists have already found evidence of other Neanderthal activity in the area, including stone tool making or the use of fire.
With this latest discovery, researchers believe it was used as a short-term base by Neanderthal groups.
The animals were captured locally, transported to the camp, and after treatment, some of them were said to have been transported elsewhere.
All the stages of the butchery have been identified, as well as the extraction of the marrow from the long bones, revealing an interest in obtaining this nutritious food.
Human use of animal resources at the site reflects the emphasis on hunting large cattle and deer, or deer, while horses, rhinos and small animals were much less common, said the researchers.
Carnivore activity has also been identified, but these animals, including hyenas, mostly left behind the remains of small prey or fed on carcasses left at the camp by human hunters.
“Navalmaíllo is one of the few archaeological sites on the Iberian Peninsula that can be interpreted as a hunting camp,” the study authors said, but added that “it is likely that more hunting camps will be present in the Iberian Peninsula but remain to be found “. ‘
This map of the Iberian Peninsula shows the location of the Abrigo de Navalmaíllo excavation sites as well as sites dated to the Upper Pleistocene
Tooth marks, fractures, cut marks and trampling marks have all been found on fossilized bones recovered from the Madrid site
These graphics show the types of extra large, large, medium and small animals found on the site. Human use of animal resources at the site reflects the emphasis on primary access to large cattle and deer. Access to horses, rhinos and small animals was much less common, researchers say
“Navalmaíllo is one of the few archaeological sites on the Iberian Peninsula that can be interpreted as a hunting camp,” the study authors said, but added that “it is likely that more hunting camps will be present in the Iberian Peninsula but remain to be found “.
Earlier this month, separate research claimed that the cave paintings drawn by Neanderthals of swirling dots, scales, animals and hands showed our distant cousins to be more artistic than previously thought. at the beginning.
A flowstone formation at Cueva de Ardales, Málaga in Spain is tinged with red, originally thought to be a natural coating of iron oxide deposited by flowing water.
However, samples of the red residue allowed a team from the University of Barcelona to reexamine its origins and confirm that it was created by Neanderthals 65,000 years ago.
They found that the ocher-based pigment was intentionally applied by the Neanderthals, as modern humans had not yet made an appearance on the European continent.
A close relative of modern humans, Neanderthals died out 40,000 years ago
The Neanderthals were a close human ancestor who mysteriously became extinct about 40,000 years ago.
The species lived in Africa with the first humans for millennia before settling in Europe around 300,000 years ago.
They were then joined by humans, who entered Eurasia around 48,000 years ago.
The Neanderthals were a cousin species of man but not a direct ancestor – the two species separated from a common ancestor – who perished about 50,000 years ago. In the photo, an exhibition from the Neanderthal museum
They were the original “cave men”, historically considered stupid and brutal compared to modern humans.
In recent years however, and especially in the last decade, it has become increasingly evident that we are short-selling Neanderthals.
A growing body of evidence points to a more sophisticated and versatile type of “cave man” than anyone thought possible.
It now seems likely that Neanderthals had recounted, buried their dead, painted, and even crossed paths with humans.
They used body art like pigments and beads, and they were the very first artists, with Neanderthal rock art (and symbolism) in Spain apparently predating early modern human art by some 20,000 years.
They are believed to have hunted on land and fished. However, they became extinct around 40,000 years ago following the success of Homo sapiens in Europe.
[ad_2]
Source link