Twisted fibres: photo-mosaic of twisted vessel element (N6 583) O.M. 100×; twisted plant fibre . Image: Hardy et al
Posted on 11/21/2013 6:28:04 AM PST by Renfield
In a further study of Neanderthal occupation at Abri du Maras, Ardèche in France, the evidence is stacking up to support the view that this group was behaviourally flexible and capable of creating a variety of sophisticated tools including projectile points and more importantly, cord and string.
Fibrous materials that can be used to create cords are difficult to find in the archaeological record and have usually rotted away, so the oldest known string dated back only 30,000 years. However, perforations in small stone and tooth artefacts as well as shells from other Neanderthal sites in France suggested the pieces had once been threaded on string and worn as pendants.
Bruce Hardy at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, explains that “The wear patterns provide circumstantial evidence of early use of string, but the evidence is not definitive.” These items could also have been threaded onto animal sinew.
A new article in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews examines much of the material recovered from the Abri du Maras site and appears to provide compelling evidence that twisted fibres were being created by Neanderthals at least 90,000 years ago.
At this site, Neanderthals also exploited a wide range of resources including large mammals, fish, ducks, raptors, rabbits, mushrooms, plants and wood.
However, Hardy and his colleagues have found slender, 0.7-millimetre-long plant fibres that are twisted together and were found near to some stone artefacts. Such fibres are not twisted together in nature, says the team, suggesting that the Neanderthals were responsible.
Twisted fibres: photo-mosaic of twisted vessel element (N6 583) O.M. 100×; twisted plant fibre . Image: Hardy et al
As these fibres are not twisted in their natural state experiments were carried out involving incising, planing, whittling, scraping and boring. In all cases, no twisted fibres resulted.
Further experiments conducted by Bruce Hardy involved the scraping, cutting and slicing of a variety of non-woody plants (roots, tubers, reeds, etc.), and again these also produced no twisted fibres such as those observed.
While not definitive, the lack of twisted fibres in these experiments lends some credence to the hypothesis that these derive from cordage.
“If they are indeed remnants of string or cordage, then they would be the earliest direct evidence of string,” says Hardy. “Albeit very fragmentary evidence.”
The date of 90,000 years is important, as the material that the researchers are suggesting is string predates the arrival of Homo sapiens in Europe by at least 45,000 years.
This in turn suggests that the Neanderthals occupying the Abri du Maras site had learned the complex act of making and using cordage, rather than imitating modern humans. The uses and potential of this material has greater implications for understanding Neanderthal behaviour.
Image: Robin Hutton (Flickr, used under a CC BY 3.0)
In fact, a growing body of evidence suggests Neanderthals developed a number of sophisticated behaviours.
Stone tools created by Neanderthals have also been found on the Greek islands of Lefkada, Kefalonia and Zakynthos, hinting that the species may have made and used boats to cross the sea – although no direct evidence of boats has been found so far.
To carry out such voyages sturdy ropes would have been required to build and use rafts or boats. “The ability of Neanderthals to manufacture string and cordage certainly does make the idea of Neanderthal seafaring more plausible,” Bruce Hardy says.
Source: Quaternary Science Reviews
Ping
I saw the title and clicked on this thread link thinking it was going to be some sort a Cat Fight among physicists.
bttt
The ultimate black swan event:
http://tinyurl.com/axluwvf
<>
Playing under a new set of rules:
http://tinyurl.com/leuy57a
Now that we know that they had string, we need some further discoveries to find out how cultured they were. Were the strings for banjos, guitars, or violins?
Now that we know that they had string, we need some further discoveries to find out how cultured they were. Were the strings for banjos, guitars, or violins?
Hmmm! Garrotes?
Neanderthals invented the G-string.
From what I’ve read, there has never been found a bone needle in any Neanderthal site. Did they have hair to cover their bodies?
Kind of off topic, but your comment had me thinking...during the time of the Danes/Vikings raids and settlements in England and even in Denmark...with all the swords, battle axes, shields, spears and so forth, how come we have so few examples historically. Just wondering. They couldn’t all have been lost in tragic boating accidents, could they.
Did they make string or just use duct tape?
Needles of any sort are rather hard to find nor are needles the only way to make clothing. A needle is not even necessary for spun fiber clothing.
If you are using leather with the fur on the best way is to bore holes in the leather before assembly. After that, no needle required.
Snares, bows, fishing, bikinis,.....
I thought they bought braided nylon in various diameters at the Lowes Cave Improvement Center.
Bikinis.
The Neandertal Enigma"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
in local libraries
The plot thickens....
Well, that’s gonna take one heck of a Brazilian wax to cover the “bikini line.”
Since hearing the humans have several % of Neanderthal genes, and it is particulary common among northern blue eyed redheads I have given careful thought to my late husband. He was of Scottish decent, 6’, 200 lbs, heavy bones, clear blue eyes, red head, heavy brow ridges, massive skull, long torso, short legs,early adolescence, insensitive to cold, quick temper, killer instinct, and very hairy. Had dense curly hair from chest to legs, across one shoulder and on back, also grew a great beard. I’ll bet he was at least 4% Neanderthal genes and perhaps more.
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