Evidence has emerged that Neanderthals extracted fat from animal bones as far back as 125,000 years ago. Until now, the oldest known record was that Homo sapiens, the direct ancestor of modern humans, processed animal bones 28,000 years ago, but it has been discovered that humanity's cousins preceded that significantly.
The research team led by Professor Wil Roebroeks of Leiden University in the Netherlands noted that "traces of large-scale processing of animal bones from 125,000 years ago were discovered in Neumark-Nord in central Germany," as reported on the 3rd (local time) in the international journal Science Advances. This study is expected to greatly assist in reconstructing the lifestyle of the mysterious ancient humans, the Neanderthals.
◇Crushing and boiling bones to extract oil
The Neumark-Nord site was first discovered in the 1980s. An international research team, primarily from Leiden University in the Netherlands and the MONREPOS Archaeological Research Center in Germany, found traces of large-scale processing of animal bones through studies conducted from 2004 to 2009.
The research team excavated over 100,000 bone fragments from 172 large animals, including extinct mammoths, elephants, and cattle. The bones were found to be finely chopped, and traces of charcoal and scorched granite where fire had been used were also discovered. The researchers estimated that these were evidence of boiling bones to extract fat.
The oldest ancestors of humankind had already broken bones and consumed the fat-rich marrow in Africa. This study shows that Neanderthals advanced their methods of fat extraction from bones. By crushing bones and boiling them in water, they could extract fat from the porous bone, obtaining high-calorie oil.
No Neanderthal remains were found at this site. However, during this period, the only humans capable of operating a fat processing facility were Neanderthals. Neanderthals left Africa 400,000 years ago and settled in Eurasia, coexisting with Homo sapiens for tens of thousands of years until their extinction about 40,000 years ago. Homo sapiens evolved in Africa 300,000 years ago and began a large-scale migration from Africa to the Eurasian continent about 70,000 years ago.
◇Gathering marrow-rich bones for separate processing
Animal fat was a useful food source for Neanderthals, who traveled long distances while hunting and gathering. It did not spoil easily and could be stored for a long time, which would have made it convenient to carry. Professor Roebroeks said, "This study suggests that the hunting and gathering Neanderthals may have engaged in a form of food storage activities."
Neanderthals undertook systematic work to obtain fat from animal bones. While many bones were scattered throughout the Neumark-Nord site, the marrow-rich bones were collected in one place. The bones found here showed signs of being finely chopped and cut. The research team indicated that this suggests animals were intentionally transported for large-scale processing, indicating the operation of a facility to produce high-calorie nutrients.
Lutz Kindler, a joint author and researcher at the MONREPOS Archaeological Research Center, said, "They likely stored animal carcasses in a specific location and later transported them to the fat extraction site." Geoff Smith, another co-author from the University of Reading in the UK, noted that "Neanderthals were not merely struggling to survive as hunters and gatherers; they were comprehensive planners, looking to the future, organizing complex tasks, and squeezing every calorie from their environment."
The vessels used by Neanderthals to boil animal bones were likely not made of clay. The oldest pottery artifacts date back to 20,000 years ago. Professor Roebroeks noted that "recent experiments have shown that vessels made from leather or birch bark can also boil water over a fire to cook food."
◇Fat helps prevent protein poisoning
The researchers estimate that the fat extracted from animal bones by Neanderthals did not simply add calories but also helped mitigate the risk of protein poisoning. Known as rabbit starvation, protein poisoning refers to a state of nutritional imbalance that occurs when consuming only lean protein, like rabbit meat, continuously. In severe cases, it can lead to death.
Indeed, Neanderthals faced the risk of protein poisoning. In 2022, researchers from the French National Center for Scientific Research's Geosciences and Environmental Research Institute announced in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that an analysis of a Neanderthal molar from the Cabas cave in northeastern Spain dating back 150,000 years revealed they were entirely dependent on a carnivorous diet.
Isotopes refer to atoms of the same element but with different atomic weights. Zinc has isotopes with atomic weights of 66 and 64. Muscles contain more of the lighter zinc-64 isotope than the heavier zinc-66 isotope. If the Neanderthals had a high intake of meat, their teeth should have contained more of the lighter zinc isotopes.
The analysis revealed that the Neanderthals from the Cabas cave had a heavy isotope with an atomic weight of 66, which amounted to only 0.35 permil, while the lighter isotopes were much more prevalent. The ratio for the large herbivores that lived at that time was 1.24 permil, and the ratio for the omnivorous cave bear was 1.15 permil. Carnivorous animals such as wolves and hyenas had a ratio of 0.85 permil. Close to the carnivores rather than the herbivores or omnivores, Neanderthals operated a fat processing facility to survive.
◇References
Science Advances (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adv1257
PNAS (20222), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2109315119