Small animal use by Neanderthals

Abstract

Recent research about Neanderthals has led to an extensive reevaluation of previous perceptions regarding their behaviour and adaptations. Current evidence suggests that Neanderthals were versatile enough to adapt to different ecological conditions and displayed complex cognitive and symbolic behaviours once considered exclusive to modern humans. Through the analyses of animal bone assemblages, taphonomy has contributed to the development of this knowledge. Small prey occupies a special place within this debate and plays a significant role in Palaeolithic diet studies. Recently, the use of sessile, slow, and fast-moving small animals has been identified as a widespread behaviour within certain parts of the Neanderthal range. Although initially interpreted as potentially informative of diet breadth expansions, it is now becoming increasingly clear that the use of small game may have different economic and cultural significance depending on the context. This chapter presents an overview of current knowledge on the consumption of rabbits, birds, tortoises, and aquatic resources and the important implications they have for behavioural complexity in the Middle Palaeolithic.