Archaeologists Discover Evidence of 125,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Resource Processing Site

Here is a summary of the study's findings:

• A recent study presents evidence of Neanderthal sites used for extracting fat from animal bones, dating back approximately 125,000 years.
• Researchers determined that the inhabitants selected a lakeside location for processing, utilizing methods such as breaking, crushing, and heating bones to obtain marrow and bone grease.
• The findings suggest Neanderthals had an understanding of their dietary needs and were able to plan for hunting and resource gathering.

Evidence of Early Resource Processing

While the assembly line is often associated with the early 20th century, archaeological evidence indicates that Neanderthals engaged in systematic processing of animal resources much earlier. A study published in Science Advances describes how Neanderthals at the Neumark-Nord site near Leipzig, Germany, extracted bone marrow for food as early as 125,000 years ago. This research, conducted by Leiden University, builds on previous investigations at the site.

Environmental Context and Previous Research

During this period, the region experienced an interglacial climate similar to present-day conditions. Earlier studies at Neumark-Nord documented Neanderthal hunting and butchering of straight-tusked elephants. There is also evidence of plant use, though such remains are rarely preserved. Additionally, research has shown that fire was used to manage vegetation in the area.

Findings from the Recent Excavation

Archaeologists found that Neanderthals deliberately chose the lakeside location to process the bones of at least 172 mammals, including deer, horses, and aurochs (an extinct bovine species). The study reports that large mammal bones were broken to extract marrow, then further ground into fragments and heated in water to obtain bone grease. These activities suggest advanced resource collection practices much earlier than previously documented.

"This was intensive, organised, and strategic," said Lutz Kindler, the study's first author. "Neanderthals were clearly managing resources with precision—planning hunts, transporting carcasses, and rendering fat in a task-specific area. They understood both the nutritional value of fat and how to access it efficiently—most likely involving caching carcass parts at places in the landscape for later transport to and use at the grease rendering site."

Researchers propose that Neanderthals recognized the need to obtain sufficient fat to justify the effort involved in processing bones. The study's authors note that the number of herbivores processed at Neumark-Nord indicates planning and effective use of the environment.

Preservation and Future Research

The scope and preservation of the Neumark-Nord site complex have enabled extensive research.

"The enormous extent and exceptional preservation of the Neumark-Nord site complex offers us a unique opportunity to investigate how Neanderthals influenced their environment—both flora and fauna," said Fulco Scherjon, a researcher on the project. "This is extremely rare for such an ancient site—and opens perspectives for future research."