Neanderthals Ate Seals and Dolphins

Live Science ^ | Sep 22, 2008 | Clara Moskowitz

[decimon]

The diet of prehistoric Neanderthals living in caves on the Rock of Gibraltar included seals and dolphins, showing once again that the hominids had skills rivaling those modern humans living then, according to a new study.

The discovery of seal, dolphin and fish remains in the caves dating from 60,000 to 30,000 years ago provides the first evidence that Neanderthals ate sea mammals as well as land grub.

[decimon]

Surfing turf ping.

[randomhero97]

That sucks, the dolphins were probably more intelligent than the Neanderthals. (No PETA)

[coconutt2000]

I think any hominid species that survived as long as the Neanderthals did can’t be characterized as stupid. What we should be looking for is the single most challenge to their survival or series of challenges that resulted in their extinction.

It may be something as simple and esoteric (and unexpected) as a series of mutations in either the female or male genome that reduced fertility.

[beaversmom]

I watched a show about Neanderthals last night on National Geographic. Pretty interesting stuff. They’ve got some DNA from one of the bones they found and are trying to map it. I don’t understand all the DNA genome stuff, but it sounds interesting. I think they’ve figured out from their DNA that they did have language and some of them had red hair.

[Roscoe Karns]

Dolphin & seal. I have that for lunch every Earth Day.

[decimon]

That sucks, the dolphins were probably more intelligent than the Neanderthals.

Maybe they were more intelligent than us. Maybe we were more vicious.

[decimon]

Dolphin & seal. I have that for lunch every Earth Day.

Club Your Own day at Ralph's?

[Viking2002]

'That sucks, the dolphins were probably more intelligent than the Neanderthals. (No PETA) '

Hey! I resemble that remark!!!!!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

To be fair, they ONLY ate the Dolphins and Seals that accidentally got tangled up in their nets while fishing for Tuna...

Waste not, want not! :)

[Krankor]

Which is worse? To be called a Neanderthal or a Philistine?

[PapaBear3625]

They probably ate a lot more regular fish, but the bones of seals and dolphins were more likely to last for 30K years.

[decimon]

Which is worse? To be called a Neanderthal or a Philistine?

Investment banker.

[Viking2002]

From an ichthyological and culinary standpoint, dolphin (Mahimahi - Coryphaena hippurus) - is on par with tilapia and sole. And Harry's Seafood, Bar, and Grille has a blackened mahi sammich that'll put lead in your pencil. Never dined on the mammalian kind.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

I still think modern man killed off the Neanderthals and ate them. They were too stupid and our ancestors too clever and tricky. They were bigger and tougher but we were smarter and faster.

[Spiff]

OH NOZ!

[TheWasteLand]

I think you might be on to something. It looks like someone took a bite out of Seal’s face.

[J40000]

Dolphins and Seals? ... tastes like chicken!

[Chickensoup]

They ATE Flipper?

BRUTES!

[waterhill]

mmmmm....SEAFOOD!!