Neanderthals dived for shells to make tools, research suggests

The Guardian UK ^ | 15 Jan 2020 | Nicola Davis

[blueplum]

Neanderthals went diving for shells to turn into tools, according to new research, suggesting our big-browed cousins made more use of the sea than previously thought.

The study focuses on 171 shell tools that were found in a now inaccessible coastal cave in central Italy, known as the Grotta dei Moscerini, which was excavated in 1949. Dating of animal teeth found within layers alongside the shell tools suggest they are from about 90,000 to 100,000 years ago – a time when only Neanderthals are thought to have been present in western Europe....(snip)

...The team reported another surprise: the discovery of pumices – lumps of volcanic rock that they say were probably collected by Neanderthals from the beach. Such rocks are known to have been used by early modern humans to ....

[blueplum]

Neanderthals ate sushi - I wonder if they surfed, too?

[Cowboy Bob]

The Neanderthals were an advanced race, but they were overwhelmed my the migrants coming out of Africa. Sort of like what’s happening today.

[ETCM]

Saying that the shells were not heavily worn means they were live collected by a diver is a huge leap, and likely incorrect. I have found many, many beached shells in perfect condition, with the periostracum still intact, that would be difficult to distinguish from a live collected specimen. After storms I’ve found many with parts of the mollusk still present, and in some cases, still living.

[NFHale]

Eh. That’s nothing.

OUR Neanderthals managed to fraud themselves into running the entire state of Virginia and are currently busily engaged in trying to start a shooting match with the Citizens.

Beat THAT, shell divers...

[entropy12]

No wonder the Neanderthals went extinct. Sea shells are NOT good material for tools. They are brittle and break easily. The modern humans used chiseled rocks for tools, which work better in butchering killed animals and last longer.

[entropy12]

Not happening partner! The average net worth of African-Americans is smaller than all other ethnic categories, except new immigrants. Long term immigrants are right at the top of the list, ahead of all others.

[blueplum]

I’d guess the shells were maybe used to flesh or carve tender hides (rabbit? body tribal markings?), rather than butcher tough cuts. Neanderthals were a creative lot - surely their talents weren’t limited to a few cave paintings?

[Deplorable American1776]

Neanderthals are smarter than some people in Congress. I wonder if they thought Guam would flip over. 😋

Of course, I wonder if Bernie or A O-C think that they went extinct because they didn't have free health care, free college, free food, or free stuff... 😋

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Rastus]

They do it down on Camber Sands
They do it at Waikiki
Lazing about the beach all day,
At night the crickets creepy

Squinting faces at the sky
A Harold Robbins paperback
Surfers drop their boards and dry
And everybody wants a hat

But behind the chalet
My holiday’s complete
And I feel like William Tell
Maid Marian on her tiptoed feet
Pulling mussels from a shell
Pulling mussels from a shell

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Nowadays, Neanderthals convene in a place called Des Moines which means “Gather Place of Communists” in the Neanderthal language. They go their diving for a thing called “votes.”

[cpdiii]

“Saying that the shells were not heavily worn means they were live collected by a diver is a huge leap, and likely incorrect. I have found many, many beached shells in perfect condition, with the periostracum still intact, that would be difficult to distinguish from a live collected specimen. After storms I’ve found many with parts of the mollusk still present, and in some cases, still living.”

You are precisely correct. I have no doubt they went diving for mollusks as a food source in shallow waters. If the shell was useful as a tool it would be most logical to use it so. They would have with out doubt used shells found on the beach for the same purposes.

Anthropologists have a tendency to develop theories with little basis in logic. However, it does make interesting reading. Sometimes they are right. More often in fact they are not.

However, this does not mean their science is bad science. It is just theory until proved right or wrong. So long as they present it as theory I have no problem with this. If they present it is fact as do those of man made global warming they are just scientific frauds.

ps
If geologic history is correct and we are really at the end of an ice age the caps will melt and New York and London and other great cities near the coast will very slowly go beneath the oceans. We will slowly retreat from the sea over several thousands of years. Those great cities will have already fallen from just age. It will not be a catastrophic event.

However, in the geologic past we have had warming periods in a glacial period much similar to what is happening now. This was a brief warming period without full melting of the glacial caps and soon returned to full glaciation.

In reality we do not know where we are in relationship to full melting of the icecaps or return to full ice age. Man does not have one damn thing to do with it.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj.

Here are the other GGG topics introduced since the previous Digest ping:

• Archaeologists discover Phoenician family tomb in ancient city of Achziv [2020]
• Christie's to Offer Shakespeare's 'First Folio' [2020]
• 'Jeopardy!' Criticized for Stating That the Church of the Nativity Is in Israel [2020]
• Painting uncovered under centuries of dirt on the wall of a Viennese cathedral could be a lost work by Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer [2020]
• The Mysterious Shark Attack in Lake Michigan [2020]
• Scientists Think They've Found 'Mitochondrial Eve's' First Homeland [2020]
• THIS DAY IN HISTORY Henry Ford sets speed record [2020]
• Victorian-era £5 gold coin showing the 20-year-old Queen leading a lion representing the burgeoning British Empire sells for a record £530,000 [2020]

[PIF]

The Neanderthals were an advanced race, but they were overwhelmed my the migrants coming out of Africa.

---

The Neanderthals were a species and inter bred with an older species heidelbergensis to produce hybrid Denisovans species who interbred with Cro-Magnon species who bred back with both Denisovans and Neanderthals to get us. We are hybrids.

[PIF]

crabs, mollusks are regarded historically by native peoples as food only when hunting is very bad and starvation is a possibility.

[Adder]

So she sold sea shells by the sea shore.

Albeit, sporadically.

[Red Badger]

Neanderthals ate seafood.

Neanderthals used tools.

Neanderthals had a good time.................

[wintertime]

I have, too.

[bitt]

p

[GOPJ]

Writing in the journal Plos One, Villa and colleagues note the new study is not the first to suggest Neanderthals were comfortable in the water. It has recently been found that Neanderthals had “surfer’s ear”, a bony growth in the external ear canal that forms in response to repeated exposure to cold water or wind.

Who knows, maybe they were surfers..