Neanderthals dined on shellfish much earlier than humans
Recent research indicates that Neanderthals consumed shellfish much earlier than previously thought. Evidence from Los Aviones Cave in Spain shows they harvested mollusks 115,000 years ago, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of seasonal food sources. This challenges earlier beliefs about Neanderthals' adaptability and dietary practices.
- ▪Neanderthals at Los Aviones Cave harvested shellfish 115,000 years ago.
- ▪The study reveals they preferred to consume shellfish during the colder months.
- ▪Researchers used oxygen isotopic levels to determine the timing of shellfish harvesting.
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Researchers can analyze oxygen isotopic levels to determine what time of year shellfish were harvested. Credit: ICTA-UAB Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Email address Sign up Thank you! Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For decades, many paleoarchaeologists believed Neanderthals went extinct largely because they just weren’t intelligent enough to compete with their Homo sapien relatives. However, mounting historical evidence suggests this was far from the case. The latest discovery to help the Neanderthal’s reputation ion? The ancient hominins knew when and how to safely snack on shellfish potentially thousands of years before their human descendants.
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