The Neanderthal, more skilled than they imagined?

2002/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Paleontologia
• Giza zientziak
• Arkeologia

In the north of the German mountains of Harz, a fossilized wooden tar has been discovered that has received the attention of scientists. In this fossil, more than 80,000 years old, in addition to a nice fingerprint, has been found the footprint of a campfire attached to the wooden handle. According to German archaeologists in charge of the study, Neanderthal humans burned birch to make a sustainable adhesive.

This hypothesis has sparked the debate on the intelligence of the Neanderthal: Did they own the first skill and technique at the Homo sapiens level or made the instruments copied to them? However, there are doubts as to the dating and it is possible that the topic will be clarified when knowing more data.