Neanderthals knew their way around fire. In sea caves sheltered from Gibraltar’s blustery winds, our ancient cousins built stoves to make tar from nearby plants, a new study suggests.
Previous research has shown that Neanderthals used tar as an adhesive for weapon making and fire for heat and cooking.SN: 8/31/17). However, the new discovery was reported on November 12. 4th scientific reviewpropose Neanderthals designed special fire structures to make tar. itself.
“We didn’t expect to find it,” said Juan Ochando Tomás, a botanist at the University of Murcia in Spain. However, after gathering evidence from various fields of science, researchers were able to confirm that this structure was a hearth and realized that it was actually made by Neanderthals.
Ochando Tomás’ team discovered a small pit in a layer of sand, clay and silt that dates back about 65,000 years in a cave known to have been inhabited by Neanderthals.SN: September 22, 2008). Researchers performed a series of chemical and visual analyzes of the contents of the pit and surrounding sediments.
Their results suggest that the pits contain charcoal, pollen and chemical compounds that indicate the combustion of resinous plant material, along with yellow crystals that are interpreted as tar. The tar appeared to be made from the resin of Gum Rockrose.Sisters Radanifer), a plant growing on a nearby shrub.
Based on their findings, the researchers recreated the structure by filling the hole with rock roses, sealing it with sand and soil, and setting a fire over it to steam the plants. After several attempts, the team was able to make enough tar from flint and olive wood to make two spears.
Archaeologist Andrew Sorensen, who was not involved in the study, said the structure was “unusual” for this period. Most Neanderthal stoves were much simpler, and fire use by ancient humans appears to have been less frequent during this period, he says.
Initially skeptical of the study’s conclusions, Sorensen says he was drawn to the analysis and recreation of the pit contents. The discovery indicates that Neanderthals may have used one of the more complex and efficient methods of making tar, he says, adding another possible adhesive to the short list of things they used to make tools.
“My main curiosity now is whether they can find residues in stone tools from the site that match the physical and chemical properties of rockrose tar,” says Sorensen of Leiden University in the Netherlands. “I think this will go a long way to appease any remaining skeptics.”
