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This stone tool was glued to a handle made of liquid asphalt with the addition of 55 percent ocher. It is no longer sticky and is easier to handle.Credit: Patrick Schmidt
Analysis of 40,000-year-old tools has revealed an astonishing level of sophistication.
A team of researchers discovered that Neanderthals used sophisticated multi-component adhesives to make stone tools. The discovery is the oldest known example of such advanced glue in Europe, and suggests that these early human relatives had a higher degree of intellectual and cultural sophistication than previously believed. It shows that I had it.
Works published in magazines scientific progressincluded researchers from New York University, the University of Tübingen, and the National Museum in Berlin.
Technological innovation by Neanderthals
“These amazingly well-preserved tools show technical solutions that are largely similar to tool-making examples made by early modern humans in Africa, but the exact recipes are based on the Neanderthal ‘spin’, i.e. It reflects the production of hand tool grips,” says Radu Iovita. ,Associate Professor new york universityCenter for Research on Human Origins.
The research team, led by Patrick Schmidt from the Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology at the University of Tübingen and Ewa Dutkiewicz from the National Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin, conducted a previous study at the archaeological site Le Moustier in Berlin. The findings were reexamined. France was discovered in the early 20th century.
Micrograph showing wear marks on tools used by Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic. The location of the micrograph of the artifact is indicated in red in the drawing (top left). a) Polish, or give a shine to, the active edge of the tool handle. b) Brush under the colored stain in the adhesive covered zone. c) Ridges between concave surfaces formed by the removal of dislodged stone chips rather than by natural abrasion. d) The ridges of the adhesive-covered graspable zone are dull or worn. Comparing (c) and (d), it can be seen that the worn part is within the area covered by the designed adhesive grip. Images are displayed in microns.Credit: Drawing by D. Greinert, National Museum Berlin
The Le Moustier stone tools, used by Neanderthals during the Mousterian Middle Paleolithic period between 120,000 and 40,000 years ago, are kept in the collection of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin, but have never been studied in detail. That never happened. These tools were rediscovered during an internal review of the collection and their scientific value was recognized.
“Items have been individually wrapped and untouched since the 1960s,” Dutkiewicz said. “As a result, the attached organic debris was very well preserved.”
Unraveling ancient technology
Researchers found traces of the ocher and asphalt mixture on some stone tools, including scrapers, flakes, and blades. Ocher is a naturally occurring earth pigment. Bitumen is a component of asphalt and can be produced from crude oil, but it also occurs naturally in soil.
“We were surprised to see that the ocher content was over 50%,” says Schmidt. “This is because air-dried bitumen can be used as an adhesive as is, but adding so much loess will cause it to lose its adhesive properties.”
He and his team tested these materials in tensile tests and other measures used to determine strength.
Ocher color of liquid bitumen and earth pigment before mixing.Credit: Patrick Schmidt
“The situation was different when we used liquid bitumen, which is not very suitable for bonding. When you add 55 percent ocher, it forms a malleable mass,” says Schmidt.
It was sticky enough to pierce stone tools, and did not stick to hands, making it ideal as a material for handles.
Significance of the findings
In fact, microscopic examination of the signs of wear from use on these stone tools revealed that the adhesive on Le Moustier’s stone tools had been used in this way.
“The tool showed two types of micro-wear: one is the typical grinding of sharp edges, which is usually caused by machining other materials,” said Iovita, who conducted the analysis. explains. “One thing he noticed was that there was a bright polish distributed all over what appeared to be the hand grip, but not anywhere else. This was due to ocher from the movement of the tool in the grip. We interpreted it to be the result of color wear.”
Impact on human evolution
The use of adhesives containing several ingredients, including various sticky substances such as tree resins and ocher, has long been known from early modern humans. homo sapiens, in Africa, but not from early Neanderthals in Europe. Overall, the development of adhesives and their use in tool manufacturing is considered to be some of the best physical evidence of early human cultural evolution and cognitive abilities.
“Composite adhesives are thought to be one of the first expressions of modern cognitive processes that are still active today,” Schmidt says.
In the Le Moustiers area, the authors note that ocher and asphalt had to be collected from remote locations, which required a great deal of effort, planning, and a targeted approach.
“Given the overall situation of the find, we believe that this sticky material was created by Neanderthals,” Dutkiewicz concludes.
“Our study shows that early Homo sapiens in Africa and Neanderthals in Europe had similar thought patterns,” Schmidt added. “Their adhesion techniques have the same importance for understanding human evolution.”
Reference: “Complex recognition and high investment with ocher-based composite adhesives in Mousterian type sites” Patrick Schmidt, Radu Iovita, Armel Charrier-Duhaud, Günter Möller, Abey Namen, Ewa Do Written by Tokiewicz, February 21, 2024, scientific progress.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl0822
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