Neanderthals and Shellfish Gathering
Author Information
Author(s): Cortés-Sánchez Miguel, Morales-Muñiz Arturo, Simón-Vallejo María D., Lozano-Francisco María C., Vera-Peláez José L., Finlayson Clive, Rodríguez-Vidal Joaquín, Delgado-Huertas Antonio, Jiménez-Espejo Francisco J., Martínez-Ruiz Francisca, Martínez-Aguirre M. Aranzazu, Pascual-Granged Arturo J., Bergadà-Zapata M. Mercè, Gibaja-Bao Juan F., Riquelme-Cantal José A., López-Sáez J. Antonio, Rodrigo-Gámiz Marta, Sakai Saburo, Sugisaki Saiko, Finlayson Geraldine, Fa Darren A., Bicho Nuno F.
Primary Institution: Universidad de Sevilla
Hypothesis
Can the gathering and consumption of mollusks by Neanderthals be traced back to earlier periods than previously documented?
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that Neanderthals began gathering shellfish around 150,000 years ago, earlier than previously thought.
Supporting Evidence
- Evidence of shellfish gathering by Neanderthals was found in layers dating back to MIS 6.
- 29 absolute dates were obtained through various dating methods.
- Marine mollusks were found in good condition, indicating human collection rather than natural deposition.
- Burning marks on shells suggest they were cooked and consumed.
- Continuity of shellfishing activity was documented through multiple archaeological layers.
Takeaway
Neanderthals were eating shellfish much earlier than we thought, showing they were good at finding food from the sea.
Methodology
The study involved analyzing archaeological layers and dating them using radiocarbon, thermoluminescence, and U-series methods.
Limitations
The study is limited by the availability of archaeological layers and the potential for dating errors.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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