Neandertals likely invented specialized bone tools before modern humans arrived in Europe
In short: Researchers have identified specialized bone tools, known as lissoirs, in a Neandertal context that predates the arrival of modern humans in Europe. These tools, which were previously thought to be unique to modern human cultures, were used to process animal hides into supple and lustrous materials.
This discovery challenges the idea that complex behaviors like specialized tool-making were exclusively modern human innovations. It suggests that Neandertals may have independently developed these technologies or that cultural exchange occurred much earlier than previously thought.
The study involved analyzing microwear on a preserved lissoir to determine its function. While the evidence is compelling, it remains unclear whether these behaviors were independently invented by Neandertals or influenced by early contact with modern humans.
Why it matters: Neandertals were capable of complex technological innovations, such as specialized tool-making, long before modern humans arrived in Europe.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Soressi et al. (2013). Neandertals made the first specialized bone tools in Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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