This finding reverses the previous idea that a taste for seafood was one of the crucial elements that made our species, Homo sapiens, smarter than other ancient humans, as some research studies had actually formerly suggested. It likewise puts another nail into the coffin of the “primitive Neanderthal” theory: all proof recommends they were every bit as wise, able, and advanced as our forefathers.
” Our results include an extra nail to the coffin of the obsolete idea that Neanderthals were primitive caveman who might barely scrape a living off scavenged big-game carcasses,” research study author Dr. Mariana Nabais, a researcher at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in Tarragona, Spain, stated in a declaration.
Archaeologists are lastly offering proper acknowledgment to this extinct branch of humanity. A new research study discovered Neanderthals had a taste for cooked seafood– particularly crabs. Researchers discovered a group of Neanderthals living 90,000 years earlier in a seafront cavern routinely captured crabs, roasting them on coals and then consuming the prepared flesh.
Cancer paragus, the crab hunted by the Neanderthals. Image credit: Wikipedia Commons.
Neanderthals died out around 40,000 years earlier, while Homo sapiens industrialized and prospered. Scientists are still studying why they went extinct.
Yearning for seafood
Analyzing the patterns of the shells, the researchers disposed of the possible involvement of other predators such as rodents and birds. The marks on the shell found at the cave are likewise really similar to those produced when eating crab today, they stated. Although Neanderthals would have used stone tools rather than flatware to split open the crabs.
Archaeologists excavated a cave located about 30 kilometers south of Lisbon, just 5 meters above sea level, and discovered the remains of shellfish. There were limpets, mussels, and clams, but shell and pincer scraps from the brown crab (Cancer paragus) were the most typical. The types is still commonly consumed in Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
While they do not know whether they picked to consume crabs just for the taste and nutrition or whether they attached any cultural meaning to it, the researchers stated this is another piece of evidence that Neanderthals were more sophisticated than previously thought. Other research studies over the last few years have found evidence of a creatively sculpted bone and fiber technology utilized by Neanderthals.
The study discovered that Neanderthals were primarily after larger adult crabs, picked since of their size, with a shell about 16 centimeters broad. Currently, crabs are considered to improve healthy living due to their low-calorie and top quality protein and many vitamins and minerals and would have been an important source of nutrition for the Neanderthals.
The research study found that Neanderthals were generally after larger adult crabs, selected because of their size, with a shell about 16 centimeters wide. Each crab would have supplied 200 grams of meat. Presently, crabs are considered to improve healthy living due to their low-calorie and premium protein and numerous vitamins and minerals and would have been an important source of nutrition for the Neanderthals.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology.
Crabs are evasive and tough to catch, however Neanderthals might have collected them from low tide swimming pools in the summer, the scientists said.
Crabs are difficult and incredibly elusive to catch, but Neanderthals might have gathered them from low tide pools in the summer season, the researchers said. They likewise determined black burn marks on the shells, which suggests that the crabs were roasted on cinders at temperatures of between 300 and 500 degrees Celsius. Once cooked, they would break open the shell to access the prepared flesh.
“Together with the involved proof for the large-scale usage of limpets, mussels, clams, and a variety of fish, our information falsify the idea that marine foods played a major role in the introduction of putatively exceptional cognitive capabilities among early contemporary human populations of sub-Saharan Africa,” Nabais said in a statement.
A new study found Neanderthals had a taste for prepared seafood– specifically crabs. Researchers discovered a group of Neanderthals living 90,000 years ago in a seafront cave frequently caught crabs, roasting them on coals and then consuming the cooked flesh.