The discovery of a partial skeleton in the Feldhofer cave in Neander Valley in 1856 placed the Neanderthals at the centre of discussions on human evolution, making them one of the most studied human species. Their material culture, spanning over 300,000 years, extended across Eurasia through multiple glacial and interglacial cycles. The faunal assemblages are an essential source of information on Neanderthal life, and zooarchaeological studies are a fundamental tool to interpret their behaviour. The essential task of zooarchaeology is to reconstruct the animal resources used by ancient populations by studying bone remains of the different taxa present in the archaeological record to shed light on behavioural aspects of the human past.
The study of faunal assemblages on the Upper Pleistocene level 5 of Abri du Maras and level P of Abric Romaní, associated with Classic Neanderthals from MIS 5e to MIS 3, provides critical information on Neanderthal subsistence strategies. Zooarchaeological analysis reconstructs hunting patterns, carcass processing, settlement use, and group behaviour while offering insights into ecosystems, seasonality, and site formation processes.
Neanderthals primarily relied on hunting ungulates, such as red deer, reindeer, and wild horses, with selective preferences for certain species. At Abric Romaní and Abri du Maras, Neanderthals had primary access to carcasses by effectively hunting. Based on tooth eruption and wear, age profiles indicate selective and non-selective hunting strategies adapted to species and their migratory patterns. Cooperative hunting techniques, particularly for large animals, were likely employed. There isn’t a single pattern in the way animals died that fully defines how Neanderthals hunted. However, in the Mediterranean basin, their hunting seemed more focused on specific species and the ages of their prey
Skeletal profiles at sites like Abric Romaní and Abri du Maras reveal variability in transport strategies and economies. At Abric Romaní, transport was diverse, although a preference for high-value anatomical segments was observed. Mixed profiles show evidence of strategies aimed at maximizing food return. Comparisons with current hunter-gatherer groups highlight similar transport diversity. At Abri du Maras, Neanderthals systematically maximized the value of transported elements across taxa.
Territorial mobility strategies were inferred from site analysis and compared to modern hunter-gatherer settlement patterns. Level P of Abric Romaní revealed two occupation types: short-term transitory residential camps focused on red deer exploitation and specialised hunting camps targeting horses. These findings reflect a logistic mobility system, where Neanderthal groups moved in response to large ungulate availability. Meanwhile, Abri du Maras indicates prolonged occupations, functioning primarily as a residential site for domestic activities and resource exploitation, likely spanning an entire season.
Neanderthal subsistence strategies demonstrate adaptability in hunting, transport, and settlement use. These groups employed diverse occupation types and mobility systems tailored to ecological conditions and resource predictability. Faunal studies reveal their complex behaviour, emphasising cooperation, efficiency, and strategic decision-making in the Mediterranean basin.
Historian (University of Salamanca, 2012) and PhD in Prehistory (MNHN Paris & UNIFE Ferrara, 2020, Erasmus Mundus IDQP), specializes in zooarchaeology and Paleolithic paleoenvironments. He completed a master’s in Quaternary Archaeology (URV Tarragona) and received the "Emilie Campmas 2020" award for his doctoral thesis. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at UNED and associate of IPHES and CNRS, he focuses on Neanderthal and modern human subsistence strategies. He co-directs the El Castillo Cave excavation (Spain) and contributes to major research projects in Tanzania (Olduvai Gorge), Spain (Sierra de Atapuerca), Kenya (Lake Turkana), and key sites like Abric Romaní and Cova Gran de Collbató.