50,000 year old Neanderthal bone spear found in Spain!

Researchers from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA) recently uncovered an extraordinary 50,000-year-old spearhead crafted from a horse bone at the Abric Romaní archaeological site near Barcelona. This remarkable find is challenging long-held beliefs about Neanderthals, revealing they didn’t just rely on stone tools for hunting, as previously thought.

Unearthing a New Chapter in Neanderthal History

The Abric Romaní site, a key location for studying Neanderthal life, served as a campsite for these early humans between 75,000 and 40,000 years ago. Over decades of excavation, researchers have discovered numerous tools made from stone, wood, and bone. However, this horse bone spearhead is unique. It is the first evidence of Neanderthals in the Iberian Peninsula using animal bones to craft hunting weapons.

Upon close inspection, the spearhead showed clear signs of deliberate shaping. Microscopic marks and fractures at its tip reveal it was used as a weapon, and traces of wear indicate it was attached to a wooden shaft, confirming its role in hunting. Unlike previously found bone tools, which were primarily used for tasks like scraping hides or digging, this spearhead signifies a leap in technological complexity, showcasing Neanderthal innovation.

Photo Credit: Mateo-Lomba et al., Scientific Reports 2024

A New Perspective on Neanderthal Technology

This discovery forces a reevaluation of the assumption that Neanderthals only resorted to bone tools when stone was unavailable. The site had plenty of stone tools, yet Neanderthals chose to craft a hunting tool from bone. According to lead researcher Dr. Mateo-Lomba, this find reshapes our understanding of Neanderthal ingenuity, emphasizing that they adapted their technology to different materials and hunting strategies. The spearhead shows their resourcefulness and ability to develop complex tools, previously attributed more to early Homo sapiens.

Neanderthals, long associated with stone tools, are now understood to have been more versatile in their tool-making than previously thought. While bone tools have been found in other ancient human species, most of them were simple implements, not weapons. This discovery at Abric Romaní represents a major advancement in the technological capabilities of Neanderthals.

Crafting Mastery Hidden in Plain Sight

The design of the spearhead, with its impact fractures, suggests it was used to hunt large game like deer or horses. It remains unclear if the horse bone was specifically chosen or repurposed after the animal was butchered. Either way, the growing evidence of bone tools at Neanderthal sites like Abric Romaní highlights their skill in using available resources efficiently.

This breakthrough not only sheds new light on Neanderthal technology but also opens the door for further research into early bone tool use. As the study’s authors note, it paves the way for exploring Neanderthal resourcefulness, technological behavior, and survival strategies—challenging stereotypes of Neanderthals as less innovative than early modern humans.

The discovery of this 50,000-year-old spearhead is a testament to the sophisticated craftsmanship of Neanderthals, offering a glimpse into their remarkable adaptability and expanding our understanding of human evolution.