A recent study of ancient animal skulls found in Spain’s Des-Cubierta Cave sheds light on a curious Neanderthal practice. These skulls were not discarded but collected over time, creating a mystery about their significance.
Excavations in the cave began in 2009. Researchers discovered a trove of Mousterian stone tools, linked to Neanderthals, along with numerous skulls. They cataloged the top parts of skulls from at least 35 animals, mostly bovines, along with some deer and rhinoceroses. Interestingly, many other skeletal parts were missing—jaws, limbs, and cheekbones.
Collecting animal skulls is rare in archaeology. A team led by Lucía Villaescusa from the University of Alcalá aimed to uncover how the skulls ended up in the cave. They analyzed various factors, including the arrangement of geological debris and the condition of the bones.
Their findings revealed that after a rockfall created a debris cone in the cave, Neanderthals began placing skulls there, likely over several events rather than in a single instance. This pattern suggests that there was a deliberate and repeated activity, hinting at some form of symbolic behavior.
Experts in archaeology believe that this behavior could reveal deeper insights into Neanderthal culture. Villaescusa stated, “This sustained behavior highlights the structured nature of the practice, contributing to the discussion on the complexity of Neanderthal cultural expressions.”
These discoveries align with recent trends in anthropology, which increasingly focus on the symbolic and cultural lives of early humans. A 2022 survey indicated that 70% of archaeologists believe Neanderthals had complex social practices, similar to modern humans.
The study has been published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. For more details on this intriguing find, you can check out the article here.
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