Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – <\/strong>A new study from the Australian National University (ANU) reveals that an unexplored area in Spain’s Southern Pyrenees foothills is providing insights into a little-known period of Neanderthal history, potentially offering clues about their extinction.<\/p>\n Image credit: Adobe Stock – Jeff Whyte<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Abric Pizarro, dating from 100, 000 to 65, 000 years ago during a period MIS 4, is a rare site worldwide. Researchers have collected numerous artifacts, including stone tools and animal bones, offering valuable insights into the previously unknown Neanderthal lifestyle of that period.<\/p>\n These fascinantinbg ancient people\u00a0were able to adapt to their environment, challenging the archaic humans\u2019 reputation as slow-footed cavemen and shedding light on their survival and hunting skills.<\/p>\n The collected artifacts show that Neanderthals knew the best ways to exploit the area and territory and were resilient through harsh climate conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cOur surprising findings at Abric Pizarro show how adaptable Neanderthals were,” said lead author and ANU archaeologist, Dr Sofia Samper Carro.<\/p>\n “The animal bones we have recovered indicate that they were successfully exploiting the surrounding fauna, hunting red deer, horses and bison, but also eating freshwater turtles and rabbits, which imply a degree of planning rarely considered for Neanderthals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The results of this fascinating study challenge widespread beliefs that Neanderthals only hunted large animals<\/em>, such as horses and rhinoceros.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the bones that we are finding, which display cut marks, we have direct proof that Neanderthals were capable of hunting small animals,\u201d Dr Samper Carro said.<\/p>\n![\"Unexpected](\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/neanderthalspainaug15.jpg\")
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