Earliest Known Use of Marine Resources by Neanderthals
Numerous studies along the northern Mediterranean borderland have documented the use of shellfish by Neanderthals but none of these finds are prior to Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3).
In this paper we present evidence that gathering and consumption of mollusks can now be traced back to the lowest level of the archaeological sequence at Bajondillo Cave (Málaga, Spain), dated during the MIS 6. The paper describes the taxonomical and taphonomical features of the mollusk assemblages from this level Bj19 and briefly touches upon those retrieved in levels Bj18 (MIS 5) and Bj17 (MIS 4), evidencing a continuity of the shellfishing activity that reaches to MIS 3.
The data presented provide compelling evidence that shellfish harvesting was part of the Neanderthal trophic niche at essentially the same time when Modern Humans were also exploiting the coast in South Africa.
Although such behavioural convergence may strike some as remarkable it is probably far from extraordinary, given the use of stones for breaking open oysters, crabs and other coastal fauna by certain primates in Asia, first documented by Carpenter in 1887 and ‘‘rediscovered’’ in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
Interessante perceber que a utilização dos recursos marinhos é uma actividade muito, mas muito, antiga.
Pelos vistos muito mais antiga do que se pensava.
Os moluscos e sobretudo os mexilhões foram dos primeiros recursos a ser explorados.
In this paper we present evidence that gathering and consumption of mollusks can now be traced back to the lowest level of the archaeological sequence at Bajondillo Cave (Málaga, Spain), dated during the MIS 6. The paper describes the taxonomical and taphonomical features of the mollusk assemblages from this level Bj19 and briefly touches upon those retrieved in levels Bj18 (MIS 5) and Bj17 (MIS 4), evidencing a continuity of the shellfishing activity that reaches to MIS 3.
The data presented provide compelling evidence that shellfish harvesting was part of the Neanderthal trophic niche at essentially the same time when Modern Humans were also exploiting the coast in South Africa.
Although such behavioural convergence may strike some as remarkable it is probably far from extraordinary, given the use of stones for breaking open oysters, crabs and other coastal fauna by certain primates in Asia, first documented by Carpenter in 1887 and ‘‘rediscovered’’ in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
Interessante perceber que a utilização dos recursos marinhos é uma actividade muito, mas muito, antiga.
Pelos vistos muito mais antiga do que se pensava.
Os moluscos e sobretudo os mexilhões foram dos primeiros recursos a ser explorados.