Rare archaeological site reveals ‘surprising’ findings

An unmapped area in the foothills of the southern Pyrenees in Spain offers insights into a little-known period of Neanderthal history and provides clues that could help archaeologists solve the mystery of their demise, according to a new study from the Australian National University (ANU).

Abric Pizarro is one of the few sites in the world dating from 100,000 to 65,000 years ago, from a period known as MIS 4. Researchers have collected hundreds of thousands of artifacts, including stone tools, animal bones and other pieces of evidence that provide important data about the Neanderthal lifestyle during this period – which was largely unknown in human history until today.

The results show that Neanderthals were able to adapt to their environment, challenging archaic humans’ reputation as slow cavemen and providing insight into their survival and hunting skills.

Lead author and ANU archaeologist Dr Sofia Samper Carro said the findings showed that Neanderthals knew the best ways to exploit the area and territory and were resilient to harsh climatic conditions.

“Our surprising finds at Abric Pizarro show how adaptable Neanderthals were. The animal bones we found suggest that they successfully exploited the surrounding fauna, hunting red deer, horses and bison, but also eating freshwater turtles and rabbits, which requires a level of planning rarely considered in Neanderthals,” she said.

According to the researchers, these new findings challenge the widespread assumption that Neanderthals only hunted large animals such as horses and rhinos.

“The bones we find, which show cut marks, provide direct evidence that Neanderthals were capable of hunting small animals,” said Dr. Samper Carro.

“The bones at this site are very well preserved and we can see traces that indicate how the Neanderthals processed and slaughtered these animals.

“Our analysis of the stone artifacts also shows that there are differences in the type of tools made, indicating the ability of Neanderthals to exploit the resources available in the region.”

By shedding light on this crucial transition period, archaeologists are moving closer to solving a mystery that has puzzled researchers for decades: What caused the Neanderthals to become extinct?

According to the researchers, finds from sites like Abric Pizarro from this specific, poorly documented period provide insight into how Neanderthals lived when modern humans did not yet exist in the area and show that they flourished there.

“The unique site at Abric Pizarro provides insight into Neanderthal behaviour in a landscape where they roamed for hundreds of thousands of years,” said Dr Samper Carro.

“The Neanderthals disappeared about 40,000 years ago. Suddenly we modern humans appear in this region of the Pyrenees and the Neanderthals disappear. But before that, the Neanderthals lived in Europe for almost 300,000 years.”

“They obviously knew what they were doing. They knew the area and knew how to survive for a long time.

“That’s one of the most interesting things about this site: this unique information about how Neanderthals were once alone and lived in harsh conditions, and how they thrived before modern humans appeared.”

Thanks to modern excavation techniques, Abric Pizarro and other nearby Neanderthal sites provide detailed data for understanding Neanderthal behavior.

“We record in 3D every single remains we find that are larger than one or two centimeters. This slows down our work, and even though we have been digging at some of these sites for over 20 years, it creates a uniquely precise record of the sites,” said Dr. Samper Carro.

“We’re interested in how the different data relate to each other, from stone tools to bones to fireplaces. This more thorough excavation gives archaeologists information about how Neanderthals lived and how long they stayed in an area.”

“It is not only the individual materials that provide us with clues, but also the exact location in relation to other materials at the site. This will help us better understand how and when the Neanderthals visited these sites. Were they resident there or just passing through?”

The research team also included scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (CEPAP-UAB). The research in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Ministry of Culture of the Catalan government.

The study was published in Journal of Archaeological Science.