Reanalysis of 1948 German Discovery Shows Neanderthals Hunted Large Mammals

A team of researchers has conducted a new analysis of elephant bones and a wooden spear unearthed in 1948 at the Neumark-Nord site near Leipzig, Germany. The site, part of a former lakebed, yielded remains of straight-tusked elephants, an extinct species of Palaeoloxodon antiquus. 3 meters in length.

The bones show cut marks and signs of butchery consistent with human activity, according to the study led by Wil Roebroeks of Leiden University. Isotopic analysis of the bones indicates the elephants lived in forested environments, aligning with the habitat where the remains were found. The wooden spear, made from spruce, was preserved in the waterlogged sediments of the ancient lake.

The findings point to Neanderthals as the likely hunters, given the site's age of approximately 125,000 years, during the Eemian interglacial period.

Neanderthals inhabited Europe at that time, and no evidence of modern humans exists in the region until much later. The study estimates that a single elephant could provide food for a Neanderthal group of 20 to 30 individuals for up to three months, based on the animal's size and meat yield.

Straight-tusked elephants weighed up to 13 tons and stood over 4 meters at the shoulder, making them formidable prey.

The researchers note that hunting such large animals would have required coordinated group efforts and advanced planning. The discovery adds to a growing body of evidence challenging earlier views of Neanderthals as primarily scavengers or small-game hunters.

This reanalysis provides context on Neanderthal subsistence strategies during a warm period when large herbivores were abundant.

The Neumark-Nord site also contains remains of other animals, including horses and deer, suggesting a diverse diet. Future excavations or analyses at similar sites could reveal more about Neanderthal tool use and social organization. The study underscores the importance of revisiting archived archaeological materials with modern techniques, such as 3D imaging and DNA analysis, though no genetic material was recovered here.

Neanderthals, who lived from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago, coexisted with megafauna like these elephants before both disappeared.