Dutch scientists have discovered 50,000-year-old tools made from deer ribs in south-west France, which are believed to signify the transmission of knowledge and skill from Neanderthals to modern humans. The discovery adds to growing evidence that the Neanderthals, once viewed as dim-witted and primitive, had a high level of technological ability.
The tools are similar to bone lissoirs or smoothers, still used by leather workers today, and contain a polished tip which creates softer and more water resistant leather when scraped against a hide.
The discovery, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has reported that the excavated tools are also similar to others found at sites occupied by early modern humans at a later stage, who replaced Neanderthals in Europe around 40,000 years ago
‘If Neanderthals developed this type of bone tool on their own, it is possible that modern humans then acquired this technology from Neanderthals,’ said Dr Marie Soressi, one of the researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Not so stupid after all? Neanderthals may have passed on tool-making skills to modern humans
No comments:
Post a Comment