Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – A recent international study published in Scientific Reports has identified a previously unknown Neanderthal site on Portugal’s Algarve coast. This site features the first fossilized Neanderthal footprints ever found in the region, offering new evidence of their presence in southern Portugal. The discovery represents a significant advancement in our understanding of early human activity along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula during the Pleistocene epoch.
The research was led by Carlos Neto de Carvalho, a geologist and paleontologist at IDL–University of Lisbon and scientific coordinator of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark, together with Fernando Muñiz Guinea, a professor in the Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy and Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Seville. The project also involved experts from institutions across Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, Denmark, and China.
According to Neto de Carvalho and Muñiz, it represents an “interdisciplinary study on the ecological and behavioral analysis of the fossilized footprint record in southern Portugal.”
Researchers have discovered the first Neanderthal footprints in Portugal at two locations along the Algarve coast: Praia do Monte Clérigo, with rocks dating back approximately 78,000 years, and Praia do Telheiro, which is about 82,000 years old. At Monte Clérigo, scientists recorded five trackways and 26 individual footprints left by both adults and young children—some just over a year old—on what was once a steep coastal dune. At Praia do Telheiro, they found a single footprint likely made by a teenager or adult female, alongside fossilized bird tracks characteristic of ancient coastal and rocky environments.
The study of Neanderthal footprints provides unique insights that complement other archaeological evidence, such as bones or tools. Unlike artifacts that may have been moved or discarded elsewhere, these footprints are preserved in sediments or sedimentary rocks as direct records of Neanderthal activity at specific moments in time. They provide clear evidence of Neanderthal physical presence and behavior in specific locations.
“Footprints record a specific moment, almost instantaneously, allowing us to reconstruct what was happening; for example, a group walk, a chase, a flight, or presence in a particular landscape. The footprints show how Neanderthals used space, how they explored coastal environments, forests, dunes, or riverbanks, something that is difficult to infer solely from artifacts,” argue Neto de Carvalho and Muñiz.
Hominin footprints have been discovered preserved in Pleistocene coastal deposits. Credit: Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-06089-4
By analyzing the number, size, and arrangement of footprints, researchers can determine the minimum number of individuals present, estimate their age groups—such as children, adolescents, or adults—and even infer possible divisions of labor like hunting parties. Footprints are especially valuable for identifying children and babies who rarely leave other archaeological traces; their smaller prints provide essential insights into social structures. As the authors note, “footprints offer a unique and dynamic window into everyday behavior: a snapshot of life tens of thousands of years ago.”
The research team’s study of these footprints reveals locomotion strategies tailored to the terrain. This suggests careful route planning, proximity to campsites, potential hunting activities, and interactions with other species. For instance, one track shows human footprints alongside those of a deer made at the same time—evidence supporting theories of pursuit or ambush in dune environments.
The research employs ecological network analysis, grounded in mathematical network theory, to connect data from various coastal archaeological sites across the Iberian Peninsula. This approach confirms that Neanderthals in these regions primarily consumed deer, horses, and hares, while also incorporating marine and coastal resources into their diet. These results indicate a diversified dietary strategy.
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These new findings reveal that Neanderthals were more versatile and better adapted—both ecologically and cognitively—to coastal environments than previously thought. This provides valuable insights into their behavior, mobility patterns, and social organization.
The study was published in Scientific Reports
Written by – Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
