An international team of scientists has studied one of the most crucial tools in the hunting kit of the . However, they used it not for hunting, but for crafting leather clothing and bags.
“French” Neanderthals – True Fashionistas
The team of anthropologists believes that Neanderthals wore leather and bags over 100,000 years ago. They investigated the Abri du Maras site in France and discovered tools made from reindeer bones. Analysis confirmed that these tools were used for removing and processing hides, which were then fashioned into durable and waterproof clothing. It’s safe to say that these tools were, without exaggeration, indispensable for the task.
Around 105,000 to 132,000 years ago, the Abri du Maras site served as a summer hunting camp for our prehistoric relatives. Returning to this location year after year, Neanderthals feasted on the meat of deer and wild horses. It’s possible that the valuable tool was invented during the process of splitting a deer’s femur to extract the bone marrow.
By analyzing the wear patterns found on a fragment of the bone tool, the team concluded that they were inconsistent with abrasive actions, such as scraping hides. On the contrary, they closely matched the marks created by repeated contact with soft tissues, as reported by IFLScience.
The marks on the bone tool indicate that it was used for skinning animals.
The marks on the bone tool indicate that it was used for skinning animals
Experimental reconstructions showed that the nature of the wear was likely due to skinning. This is further supported by modern ethnographic data. For instance, the Algonquin peoples of North America prefer to use unmodified bone fragments, as they can be easily inserted between the skin and flesh without puncturing or damaging the hide.
Thus, the anthropologists theorize that Neanderthals used fragments of reindeer bone for easier and more precise skinning of animals – the material for future clothing. According to the researchers, the heavily smoothed tools indicate that they were used over an extended period and could have been part of a toolkit that a Neanderthal hunter took with him on numerous hunts throughout the entire season at the site.
Secrets of an Ancient “Tailor Shop”
“This scenario not only suggests that Neanderthals understood the technological potential of bone and utilized it,” the authors of the study noted. “It also emphasizes their ability to plan their technological processes in advance and select items for effective task execution.”
The use of such a tool also indicates that Neanderthals were very careful to avoid puncturing animal hides. Therefore, it can be assumed that they likely took care to ensure that clothing and bags made from these hides were waterproof.
Interestingly, threads made by later Neanderthals were also found at the same site. This suggests that they not only carefully processed hides but also had the technological capabilities to create durable and functional leather products.
The results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Photo: Openverse
