A chrono-stratigraphic record from the Abric Pizarro archaeological locality in the southeastern Pre-Pyrenean region prominently features MIS 4 (approximately 71,000 years ago), a period for which understanding of Neanderthal existence remains relatively sparse.
Iberian Neanderthals consumed wild fungi, pine nuts, and arboreal moss. Image attribution: Abel Grau, CSIC Communication.
Within the Abric Pizarro locale, an international consortium of archaeologists, spearheaded by researchers from the Australian National University, meticulously unearthed hundreds of thousands of lithic implements, faunal remains, and associated evidence, thereby yielding substantial insights into the behavioral patterns of Neanderthals.
These discoveries suggest that Neanderthals possessed a remarkable capacity for environmental adaptation, thereby challenging prevailing notions of these hominins as rudimentary beings and illuminating their sophisticated survival strategies and hunting prowess.
“Our findings conclusively demonstrate that Neanderthals possessed sophisticated knowledge of resource exploitation within their territories and exhibited considerable resilience when confronted with challenging climatic conditions,” stated Sofia Samper Carro, an archaeologist affiliated with the Australian National University.
“The unexpected revelations from Abric Pizarro underscore the profound adaptability of Neanderthals. The recovered osteological evidence indicates successful exploitation of regional fauna, encompassing the systematic hunting of Cervus elaphus, Equus ferus, and Bison species. Furthermore, the consumption of freshwater turtles and Lepus species suggests a level of foresight seldom attributed to Neanderthal populations.”
“These novel perspectives serve to contest widely held assumptions that Neanderthals exclusively targeted megafauna, such as equids and rhinoceroses.”
“The presence of cut marks on the retrieved skeletal fragments provides irrefutable evidence of Neanderthals’ proficiency in hunting smaller game species.”
“The exceptional preservation state of the osseous material at this site allows for direct observation of the methods employed by Neanderthals in the processing and dismemberment of these animals.”
“Our analyses of the lithic assemblages also reveal a noteworthy diversity in tool production typologies, indicative of Neanderthals’ adeptness in leveraging available regional resources.”
Illuminating this pivotal transitional epoch assists archaeologists in their pursuit of resolving a long-standing enigma that has perplexed the scientific community for decades: discerning the causative factors behind the eventual extinction of Neanderthals.
“The discovery of sites such as Abric Pizarro, dating from this particular, and historically less well-documented, period, offers invaluable information regarding Neanderthal lifestyles preceding the advent of anatomically modern humans in the region, and crucially, demonstrates their flourishing existence,” commented Dr. Samper Carro.
“The singular significance of the Abric Pizarro locale provides an intimate glimpse into Neanderthal behaviors within a landscape they had traversed for millennia.”
“Neanderthals effectively vanished from the archaeological record approximately 40,000 years ago. Concurrently, the emergence of modern humans in this Pyrenean territory coincided with their disappearance. Prior to this interaction, Neanderthals had been established inhabitants of Europe for nearly 300,000 years.”
“Their long-term survival clearly indicates a profound understanding of their environment and effective strategies for enduring prolonged periods.”
“The exceptional value of this site lies in its provision of unique data pertaining to the era when Neanderthals existed independently and navigated austere environmental conditions, highlighting their successful adaptation prior to the arrival of modern humans.”
Leveraging sophisticated excavation methodologies, Abric Pizarro and adjacent sites are yielding high-resolution data crucial for comprehending Neanderthal behavioral dynamics.
“We meticulously create three-dimensional models of every recovered artifact exceeding 1-2 cm in size,” explained Dr. Samper Carro.
“This painstaking process extends the duration of our fieldwork, with excavations at certain sites spanning over two decades, but it ensures an unparalleled level of precise site recording.”
“Our research prioritizes understanding the interrelationships between disparate data sources, ranging from lithic implements to faunal remains and hearth structures.”
“This more comprehensive excavation approach furnishes archaeologists with critical insights into Neanderthal subsistence strategies and the temporal duration of their presence in specific locales.”
“It is not solely the individual artifacts that provide clues, but also their precise spatial relationships with other materials on the site that are instrumental in elucidating how and when Neanderthals utilized these locations. Were they permanent occupants or transient visitors?”
The research findings have been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
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Sofia C. Samper Carro et al. 2024. Living on the edge: Abric Pizarro, a MIS 4 Neanderthal site in the lowermost foothills of the southeastern Pre-Pyrenees (Lleida, Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Archaeological Science 169: 106038; doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2024.106038
