Neanderthal Behavior Revealed: Surprising Insights from Pyrenees Foothills

Anthropology.net

An extraordinary archaeological site1 located at the foothills of the Southern Pyrenees in Spain is shedding light on a little-known period of Neanderthal history. Known as Abric Pizarro, this site has yielded significant data that challenges long-held views of Neanderthal life. The findings reveal a highly adaptive and resourceful group of early humans who thrived in a challenging environment for thousands of years.

ANU archaeologist Dr Sofia Samper Carro says the insights found at Abric Pizarro challenge widespread beliefs that Neanderthals only hunted large animals. Photo: Sofia Samper Carro

The Abric Pizarro Site: A Window into a Transitional Period

Abric Pizarro is one of the few sites in the world that dates back to between 100,000 and 65,000 years ago, a crucial transitional period known as MIS 4. During this time, Neanderthals roamed the region, adapting to a landscape marked by environmental shifts and fluctuating resources. The significance of this period lies in its relative obscurity; little is known about how Neanderthals lived during this time, making the discoveries at Abric Pizarro all the more valuable.

Archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of thousands of artifacts at the site, including stone tools and animal bones. These materials provide new insights into the daily lives of Neanderthals and reveal their capacity for strategic planning and adaptability.

Challenging Neanderthal Stereotypes

The discoveries at Abric Pizarro challenge the stereotypical image of Neanderthals as slow and unintelligent beings who relied solely on large game hunting for survival. According to Dr. Sofia Samper Carro, lead author and archaeologist from the Australian National University (ANU), the evidence gathered at Abric Pizarro paints a very different picture. Dr. Samper Carro explained,

“Our surprising findings at Abric Pizarro show how adaptable Neanderthals were. The animal bones we have recovered indicate that they were successfully exploiting the surrounding fauna, hunting red deer, horses, and bison, but also eating freshwater turtles and rabbits, which imply a degree of planning rarely considered for Neanderthals.”

This adaptability shows that Neanderthals were not simply opportunistic hunters of large prey but also skilled foragers who could make the most of smaller animals. This flexibility in diet would have been essential for survival in a changing environment where resources were not always abundant.

Tools, Techniques, and Resourcefulness

The tools uncovered at Abric Pizarro provide further evidence of Neanderthal ingenuity. The variability in the types of stone tools found indicates that Neanderthals were capable of producing a wide range of implements tailored to specific tasks, such as hunting, processing animals, and possibly constructing shelters. Dr. Samper Carro added,

"The bones on this site are very well preserved, and we can see marks of how Neanderthals processed and butchered these animals. Our analysis of the stone artifacts also demonstrates variability in the type of tools produced, indicating Neanderthals' capability to exploit the available resources in the area.”

These findings contradict the notion that Neanderthals were limited in their technological abilities. Instead, they reveal a group of people who were constantly innovating and adapting their toolkits to meet the demands of their environment.

Solving the Mystery of Neanderthal Extinction

The study of Neanderthal sites like Abric Pizarro helps archaeologists better understand the mysterious extinction of Neanderthals around 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals lived in Europe for nearly 300,000 years before they disappeared, leaving only modern humans to inherit the continent. The reasons for their extinction remain hotly debated among scientists, with theories ranging from climate change to competition with Homo sapiens. Dr. Samper Carro noted,

"The unique site at Abric Pizarro gives a glimpse of Neanderthal behavior in a landscape they had been roaming for hundreds of thousands of years. They clearly knew what they were doing. They knew the area and how to survive for a long time."

By studying Neanderthal behavior during a time when modern humans had yet to arrive in the region, researchers hope to piece together the puzzle of their downfall. The data from Abric Pizarro shows that Neanderthals were thriving, which raises important questions about what factors ultimately led to their extinction.

Cutting-Edge Excavation Techniques Provide New Data

Thanks to modern excavation techniques, archaeologists working at Abric Pizarro have been able to collect data with unprecedented precision. Every artifact larger than one to two centimeters is carefully 3D plotted, creating a detailed map of the site. This meticulous approach has allowed researchers to gather fine-grain data that offers deeper insights into Neanderthal life. Dr. Samper Carro noted,

"We 3D plot every single remain found larger than one to two centimeters. This makes our work slow, and we have been excavating some of these sites for over 20 years, but it turns into a uniquely precise recording of the sites.”

By mapping the relationship between different materials, such as stone tools, bones, and hearths, archaeologists can reconstruct Neanderthal behavior and settlement patterns. Were they living in a site for extended periods, or were they simply passing through? The answers to these questions help build a more complete picture of Neanderthal life during a time when the species still thrived.

Conclusion: A Complex and Capable Species

The discoveries at Abric Pizarro are reshaping our understanding of Neanderthals. Far from the simplistic portrayal of cavemen, Neanderthals were highly adaptable, resourceful, and capable of thriving in challenging environments. Their ability to exploit diverse food sources and produce varied tools suggests a level of sophistication often underestimated in past research.

These findings not only provide valuable insights into the daily lives of Neanderthals but also offer clues that may help solve the long-standing mystery of their extinction. As research continues, sites like Abric Pizarro will play a critical role in uncovering the story of our closest human relatives and their place in the broader narrative of human evolution.

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Samper Carro, S. C., Vega Bolivar, S., Pizarro Barbera, J., Westbury, E., Connor, S., Allué, E., Benito-Calvo, A., Arnold, L. J., Demuro, M., Price, G. J., Martinez-Moreno, J., & Mora, R. (2024). Living on the edge: Abric Pizarro, a MIS 4 Neanderthal site in the lowermost foothills of the southeastern Pre-Pyrenees (Lleida, Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Archaeological Science, 169(106038), 106038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2024.106038