Latest Research about Neanderthal Man

The first molecular evidence that Neanderthals not only ate a range of cooked plant foods but also understood its nutritional and medicinal qualities has been uncovered by new study.Until recently Neanderthals who disappeared between 30,000 and 24,000 years ago were thought to be predominantly meat eaters.The researchers have combined pyrolysis gas chromatography with morphological analysis of plant microfossils to identify material trapped in dental calculus from five Neanderthals from the north Spanish site of El Sidron.

The research has provided first molecular evidence for medicinal plants being used by a Neanderthal individual.The starch granules and carbohydrate markers in the samples plus evidence for plant compounds such as azulenes and coumarins as well as possible evidence for nuts,grasses and even green vegetables suggested broader use of plants.It also suggest that Neanderthal occupants of El Sidr'n had a sophisticated  knowledge of their natural surroundings which included the ability to select and use certain plants for their nutritional value and for self medication.

The Neanderthals spent much of their time carrying out domestic chores instead presumed earlier that they spent their time hunting prey.Their daily lives were infact much more mundane with tedious tasks like processing animal skins to make clothing  accounting for several hours of each day.Researchers from Cambridge University came to the conclusion after studying possible causes for the overdevelopment of the right arm bones which is common among Neanderthal skeletons.Previously it had been assumed this was caused by right handed Neanderthals spending an excessive amount of time hunting large animals with spears which built up their arm strength.The study suggested that the imbalance more likely developed as a result of spending hours scraping animal hides with stones.Such a task would have required them to make a forceful and repetitive scraping motion for several hours at a time making it more likely cause of the distinctive trait.