Neanderthal fat factories: Sensational discovery in Saxony-Anhalt!

Neanderthal fat factories: Sensational discovery in Saxony-Anhalt!

The discovery of a prehistoric “fat factory” in Saxony-Anhalt sheds new light on the way of life of the Neanderthals. Archaeologists found evidence that these early humans systematically extracted fat from large mammals 125,000 years ago. The Neumark-Nord 2 site, near Halle, shows that Neanderthals were capable of much more than previously thought - they carried out organized production of bone fat, which was essential for their survival strategies. World reports that bones of at least 172 animals such as deer, horses and aurochs were processed here.

The Neanderthals worked strategically in the adventurous surroundings of a lake landscape. They hunted collectively large mammals, whose bones they smashed on site. In this way, they obtained energy-rich fat by heating the pieces of bone and treating them in water. The complex production of bone fat required a lot of planning and targeted organization of hunting, transport and processing of the carcasses. This shows that Neanderthals had developed a deep ecological understanding and complex nutritional strategies that have previously been attributed to later human groups. This is made clear in a study published in the journal “Science Advances”, in which scientists from Leiden University and the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Monument Preservation and Archeology were involved.

A valuable source of energy

The importance of this discovery cannot be underestimated: the fat reserves gained played a central role in the survival of Neanderthals, especially during harsh winters. The supplies were stored in advance and used as needed. A single forest elephant could provide over 2,000 daily rations for adults - a significant amount that meant Neanderthals could secure resources essential to survival on their hunting trips. So underlines Research-and-knowledge, that the Neanderthal factory was intended for systematic food production.

The Neumark-Nord discovery area covers around 30 hectares and was discovered in the 1980s. The latest research shows that Neanderthals not only set up food stores, but also hunted large animals such as the European forest elephant, whose bones were found in Taubach and Gröbern. These finds illustrate sophisticated hunting behavior of the Neanderthals that went far beyond what was previously usual. Prof. Dr. Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser explains that hunting forest elephants was no exception, and this is also reflected in the cut marks on the bones, which indicate intensive processing. With appropriate measures, such as organized hunting in larger groups, the prey was hunted and processed even more efficiently, so that the entire group could benefit.

Exciting research continues to find out the details of hunting methods and their impact on the ecosystem. The complexity of Neanderthal practices is underscored by the discovery of more than 120,000 bone fragments and over 16,000 flint tools. Futurezone highlights that these results will not only expand our understanding of Neanderthals, but also change our view of prehistoric humanity itself.