Neanderthals hunted European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) in Central Europe, though probably not primarily for food. Instead, evidence from the Palaeolithic site of Neumark-Nord suggests that the animals’ shells were carefully cleaned and reused, possibly as small containers or scoop-like implements.
These findings come from an international research team led by Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser of the Institute for Ancient Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, in collaboration with researchers from the MONREPOS Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution (MONREPOS/LEIZA) and Leiden University. The study has been published in Scientific Reports.
The researchers analysed 92 turtle shell fragments dating to around 125,000 years ago, recovered from Neumark-Nord in present-day Saxony-Anhalt. Using high-resolution 3D scanning, they identified cut marks on the inner surfaces of many fragments, indicating deliberate butchery. Limbs were removed, internal organs extracted, and the shells thoroughly cleaned.
“Our data provide the first evidence that Neanderthals also hunted and processed turtles north of the Alps, beyond the Mediterranean region,” said Gaudzinski-Windheuser.
The team argues that turtles were unlikely to have been a significant food source. Excavations at Neumark-Nord have yielded well over 100,000 animal remains, including deer, cattle, horses and even the European straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), which could weigh more than ten tonnes. This abundance suggests a substantial caloric surplus.
Last year, the same researchers reported that Neanderthals at the site systematically extracted fat from large mammal bones, effectively operating a kind of prehistoric “fat factory”.
“With a weight of around one kilogram, pond turtles have a comparatively low nutritional value,” said Gaudzinski-Windheuser. “However, they are relatively easy to catch and may therefore have been hunted by children. Their shells may then have been processed into tools such as ladles.”
The researchers also suggest turtles may have been collected for their taste or possible medicinal value, drawing comparisons with practices observed among later Indigenous populations.
“Our current results shed new light on the ecological flexibility and complex survival strategies of Neanderthals, which went far beyond simple caloric maximisation,” Gaudzinski-Windheuser added.
The study forms part of ongoing analyses of material from the former open-cast lignite mine at Neumark-Nord. The research is being carried out by a joint team from MONREPOS, a facility of the Leibniz Zentrum für Archäologie (LEIZA), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and Leiden University, with support from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt.
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Sources : IDW