Evidence of Neanderthals Found in Cave

Crab Shells From Cave Show Evidence From Neanderthals

In a cave found less than 20 miles from Lisbon, Portugal, researchers have discovered cooked crab remnants. Those remnants led researchers to believe that Neanderthals were harvesting shellfish to eat.

The cave remains at Greta da Figueroa Brava, Portugal. Archaeological deposits at the cave contained stone tools, charcoal, bones, and shells that had evidence that Neanderthals had once called the southern Portuguese coastline home. Other shellfish were found along the deposit, but the majority were brown crabs. The reseachers had concluding evidence that the crabs the Neanderthals targeted were large adult crabs that would yield at least 200 grams of meat.

Reconstructed Sculpture of a Neanderthal
Reconstructed Sculpture of a Neanderthal (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/mar/26/cave-find-shows-neanderthals-collected-seafood-scientists-say)

According to cosmosmagzine.com, “They were taking them in pools of the nearby rocky coast.. The animals were brought whole to the cave, where they were roasted on coals and then eaten.”

Approximately 8% of the crabs shells showed burn marks, that indicated that th 300-500 degrees C. Some other markings on the crab indicate that tools were used to break them open.