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Neanderthal Subsistence Strategies and Implications of Cognition Complexity - Final
- 1. Neanderthal Subsistence Strategies and Implications of Cognition Complexity By Jaclyn Janero
- 2. Complex Cognition: • “… the capacity for abstract thought, analogical reasoning, cognitive fluidity, innovative thought, complex goal-directed actions, flexibility in problem- solving, multi-tasking, task switching, response inhibition, and planning over long distances of time.” (Wadley, 2013) • Different than animal hunting • Evidence of this within Neanderthal sites
- 3. Abri du Maras (~71 kya) Hardy, et al. 2013
- 4. Abri du Maras Evidence of twisted fibers Butchery on a lagomorph femur Feather barbule fragment Fish scales Hardy, et al. 2013
- 5. Payre (~150 kya) Tools used to process starchy plants Hardy & Moncel, 2011
- 6. Jonzac (~57 kya) Jonzac bone beds Britton, et al. 2011 Niven, et al. 2012
- 7. Cave Bear Exploitation (~50 kya – 27 kya) • Hard to document human interaction due to caves • Open air sites • Cut marks, projectile point • Art Projectile point location and mark Cut marks on a metacarpal Wojtal, et al 2015
- 8. Neanderthal Dental Samples Hardy et al., 2012 • Dental calculus • Medicinal plants • Bitumen & Shale • Inhalation of smoke Images of particles trapped in dental calculus
- 9. Conclusion
- 10. References • Britton, et al. 2011. Strontium isotope evidence for migration in late Pleistocene Rangifer: Implications for Neanderthal hunting strategies at the Middle Paleolithic site of Jonzac, France. Journal of Human Evolution 61:176-185. • Hardy, Bruce & Marie-Helene Moncel 2011. Neanderthal Use of Fish, Mammals, Birds, Starchy Plants, and Wood 125- 250,000 years ago. PLoS ONE 6:1-9. • Hardy, et al. 2012. Neanderthal medics? Evidence for food, cooking, and medicinal plants entrapped in dental calculus. Naturwissenschaften 99:617-626. • Hardy, et al. 2013. Impossible Neanderthals? Making string, throwing projectiles, and catching small game during Marine Isotope Stage 4. Quaternary Science Reviews 82:23-40. • Niven, et al. 2012. Neanderthal mobility and large-game hunting: The exploitation of reindeer during the Quina Mousterian at Chez-Pinaud Jonzac. Journal of Human Evolution 63:624-635. • Wadley, Lynn 2013. Recoginizing Complex Cognition through Innovative Technology in Stone Age and Paleolithic Sites. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 23:163-183. • Wojtal, et al. 2015. Gravettian hunting and exploitation of bears in Central Europe. Quaternary International 359-360:58- 71.
Editor's Notes
- For my research paper, I used the evidence that I found in publications regarding subsistence in the Middle to Upper Paleolithic to make inferences into Neanderthal cognition complexity. These inferences are also backed by current publications.
- Within this definition as to what qualifies as complex cognition, we see traits that are mostly absent within animal hunting strategies, such as multi-tasking and planning over long distances of time. There is a bounty of archaeological evidence that shows these traits in association with Neanderthals. Here are some examples of site specific evidence.
- At this site, the researchers did residue analysis on the lithic assemblages present, specifically on the ones with a prevalence of use-wear that indicates these objects were tools. They found plant fragments and wood fragments on the ends of the stone tools, as well as residue of animals, that were processed using the tools.
- More remarkably, they found fibers that showed twists along their lengths. These fibers are not twisted in their natural state, indicating the manufacture of cordage or string. This means that Neanderthals also had to make time to procure the raw material to create the cordage. They also found butchery marks on rabbits and fish scales, as well as feather barbule fragments. All have implications of trap or net creation, showing planning, multitasking, and innovation.
- Payre duplicates most of the findings from Abri du Maras, which is unsurprising, since they are both from the Ardeche river region in France. Payre differs in that there is an absence of rabbit remains and evidence in abundance of starchy plant processing, showing that Neanderthals did not have the protein rich diet that has been attributed to them, and proving the cognitive fluidity capability of the definition for complex cognition. Also at Payre, they found cervids, equids, and bovids as part of their skeletal representation. The remains of the smaller animals, such as fish and birds, can be hard to determine using more traditional forms of analysis. This can introduce a bias into the archaeological record in favor of large game.
- Jonzac has a prevalent reindeer bone bed, as you can see in the image of the excavation. When these bones were analyzed, researchers found that 22% of them had butchery marks that were in the correct location to indicate skinning, dismembering, and defleshing, as well as marrow extraction. The age analysis of the skeletal remains show that it was mostly prime-age reindeer, which is an important distinction for cognition implication, since animals in their prime are harder to exploit than the juveniles or seniors. These reindeer seasonally migrated past the Jonzac rock shelter where the processed remains were found, but the remains show multiple years’ worth of use or multiple hunting trips for the site.
- It’s hard to document human interaction with cave bears, as most of the remains are found in caves which matches the hibernation pattern of cave bears. However, there are cave bear remains in open air Paleolithic occupation sites, showing evidence of deliberate hunting. Some of the remains in the open air sites are missing the associated fauna with natural cave taphonomy, implying the remains were not scavenged from an already dead bear. Cut marks were identified on the remains and one cave bear had an embedded flint projectile in its vertebrae. These animals were massive, and would have taken a lot of individuals and communication in order to successfully utilize. In some of these sites, there is evidence of art objects, such as pendants, and bone tools made from the bones of the cave bear.
- Using two forms of mass spectrometry, combined with morphological analysis of plant microfossils, researchers were able to identify materials trapped inside the dental calculus of five Neanderthal individuals from El Sidron, Spain. This analysis revealed the first molecular evidence of inhalation of wood-fire smoke, bitumen or oil shale, and ingestion of a range of cooked foods, specifically plants. They also found evidence of ingestion of two plants known today for their medicinal qualities. The medicinal plants discovered were bitter-tasting plants with no nutritional value. The authors also point out that the evidence for complex use of medicinal plants by primates is well-documented, so it is not unreasonable to extrapolate medicinal use of plants by Neanderthals. Bitumen was used as a hafting material by Neanderthals, and the nearest oil shale source is 15 km away from the site of Sidron.
- This is an outline of some of the research in my paper that I found to be compelling evidence of Neanderthal cognition complexity, using Neanderthal subsistence strategies as the medium through which this is conveyed. I found the evidence of complex cognition to be prevalent, and I feel that it is irrefutable.