The image of the Neanderthal, a prehistoric congener of humans that lived in Europe until about 32,000 years ago, is still not very good. But new research suggests they may have been able to make sophisticated tools and jewelry for themselves. They adopted the technique from modern humans (Homo sapiens ).
There has been evidence for some time that Neanderthals made complex tools and even jewelry. In one of the most important sites, the Grotte du Renne and Saint Césaire in central France, fossilized remains of Neanderthals have been found near tools and subtle body decorations from the so-called Châtelperronian. Tools and jewelry were made in a specific way during this period from, among other things, flint.
However, the fact that Neanderthal remains have been found near these objects is not proof that Neanderthals actually made them thousands of years ago. The Grotte du Renne and Saint Césaire are the only places where this combination has been found. Both caves also contain several archaeological layers, in which also remains of modern humans (Homo sapiens ) were found.
As often happens at sites with several archaeological layers, those layers may have become mixed with each other. For example, because later inhabitants of the cave excavated remains of earlier Neanderthals. In 2010, research showed that this is even probable.
Own hand
In the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) archaeologists led by Jean-Jacques Hublin of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology report exactly the opposite in Leipzig this week. Their research in the Grotte du Renne, comparing and dating objects from different archaeological layers in a new way shows that there is no question that the layers have become mixed up. Hublin and his team used state-of-the-art C14 dating methods
The Neanderthal remains in the layer of the Châtelperronian tools appear to be between 44,500 and 41,000 years old, about the same age as the flint knives, axes and finely finished jewelry. Also a Neanderthal skeleton from nearby Saint Césaire appears to be the same age. According to Hublin, it is indeed true that Neanderthals lived in the area during that period and made the objects with their own hands.
That's not to say that Neanderthals were actually smart enough to come up with the advanced techniques used to make the Chatelperronian objects. According to Hublin, it's much more likely that they adopted the technique from modern humans, who already populated large areas of Europe at that time and who are known to be able to make such objects. According to Hublin, Neanderthals were at least intelligent enough to imitate the complex technique.
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