Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: During the Upper Paleolithic, lions become an important theme in Paleolithic art and are more frequent in anthropogenic faunal assemblages. However, the relationship between hominins and lions in earlier periods is poorly known and primarily interpreted as interspecies competition. Here we present new evidence for Neanderthal-cave lion interactions during the Middle Paleolithic. We report new evidence of hunting lesions on the 48,000 old cave lion skeleton found at Siegsdorf (Germany) that attest to the earliest direct instance of a large predator kill in human history. A comparative analysis of a partial puncture to a rib suggests that the fatal stab was delivered with a wooden thrusting spear. We also present the discovery of distal lion phalanges at least 190,000 old from Einhornhöhle (Germany), representing the earliest example of the use of cave lion skin by Neanderthals in Central Europe. Our study provides novel evidence on a new dimension of Neanderthal behavioral complexity.
Source: Scientific Reports
Institutions: Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, University of Tübingen, University of Reading, University of Göttingen, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, The University of Queensland, Reiss Engelhorn Museum, Curt Engelhorn Centre Archaeometry
Language: English
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,390
OpenAlex ID: W4387579792