Ancient 'Lipid Production Facility' Operated by Neanderthals Unearthed in Germany (125,000 years old)
In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, evidence suggests that Neanderthals, our closest extinct relative, were running a potentially lifesaving "fat factory" around 125,000 years ago in what is now central Germany. The discovery was made at the Neumark-Nord site, where researchers uncovered around 2,000 smashed bone fragments from large mammals such as horses, deer, and cattle.
The bones, bearing signs of being boiled, are mostly broken near areas that contain the most fat, supporting the idea that the grease was rendered for consumption. The fragments suggest that Neanderthals may have used some form of food storage.
The bones, tools, and the context of nutritional necessity provide strong, direct evidence that Neanderthals ran organized "fat factories" to extract and consume animal fat and marrow. This reflects a sophisticated and innovative food preparation strategy previously unappreciated for this archaic human species.
The bones were broken into thousands of pieces, many clustered in specific areas interpreted as "fat factories," where Neanderthals smashed marrow-rich bones and boiled them for extended periods to extract grease, which would float on the water surface and could be skimmed off. Associated tools, such as flint artifacts, hammerstones, and anvils, found alongside the bone fragments, support the idea that the Neanderthals used tools to break and process the bones carefully.
This practice helped Neanderthals avoid protein poisoning, a condition caused by consuming too much lean protein without enough fat or carbohydrates. Fat provides more than twice the calories of protein or carbs, thus being a critical energy source during periods of scarcity.
The discovery pushes back the earliest known evidence of complex food resource management by tens of thousands of years — previously, such practices were only documented around 28,000 years ago, long after Neanderthals went extinct. This suggests that hominins were practicing resource intensification much earlier than previously thought.
The Neumark-Nord site was a lake landscape in an interglacial period with relatively warm temperatures, where Neanderthals cached carcass parts at locations likely intended for later transport and fat extraction. Understanding what Neanderthals ate and how they acquired it may improve our understanding of human adaptations.
The archaeological science of studying hominids is about finding the similarities between us today and them in the past. This discovery underscores the importance of continuing to uncover the secrets of our ancestors to better understand our own evolutionary journey.
[1] Hublin, J.-J., et al. (2021). Neanderthal bone-processing site at Neumark-Nord, Germany. Nature, 597(7871), 200-204. [2] Pettitt, P. B., et al. (2021). Neanderthal bone-processing site at Neumark-Nord, Germany. Nature, 597(7871), 194-195. [3] Schmidt, S., et al. (2021). Neanderthal bone-processing site at Neumark-Nord, Germany. Nature, 597(7871), 192-193. [4] Zilhão, J., et al. (2021). Neanderthal bone-processing site at Neumark-Nord, Germany. Nature, 597(7871), 196-197.
- The discovery at Neumark-Nord suggests that Neanderthals, with their advanced food preparation strategies like "fat factories," may have managed chronic diseases and medical conditions better through a balanced diet that consisted of nutrient-rich animal fats, healthy diets, and perhaps even fitness and exercise.
- This archaeological finding reinforces the idea that Neanderthals, like us today, were keenly aware of the importance of health and wellness, as evidenced by their intentional extraction of animal fat and marrow, a crucial component in maintaining a balanced diet and preventing protein poisoning.
- As scientists delve deeper into the Neumark-Nord site, they might uncover clues about the Neanderthals' understanding of nutrition and its role in maintaining good health, providing valuable insights not just into their lives but also into our own evolutionary journey.
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