Archaeologists uncover evidence of Neanderthal tar production in Gibraltar cave

In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have uncovered new evidence shedding light on the advanced cognitive abilities of Neanderthals. 

Archaeologists uncovering a cave used by early humans approximately 60,000 years ago have made an extraordinary find, shedding light on the sophistication of early human life, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

They discovered a pit at Gibraltar's seaside Vanguard Cave, where Neanderthals had extracted sticky resin from woody plants.

"The results are highly significant in that they reveal complex levels of cognition in Neanderthals, indicating that they understood the plants that they needed to select and the complex industrial process required in order to manufacture tar," stated the Gibraltar National Museum in a press release.

Bones and tools had previously been discovered at the Gorham's Cave Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The tar was likely used to craft spears for hunting red deer, wild boar, and other animals, as well as for defending against predators like lions, wolves, and bears. Early humans may have created it by burying the plants and heating them with fire, depriving them of oxygen to produce resin without igniting the wood.

The findings were published by a team of international scientists in this month's Quaternary Science Reviews.

To reach these conclusions, the team conducted an archaeological experiment demonstrating that the pit, or "hearth," was suitable for extracting tar. They discovered traces of ash, charcoal, zinc, copper, and what they believe could be tar crystals.

"Based on the results, it appears that the tar was extracted from gum rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) rather than birch. Birch would have been rare in these Mediterranean latitudes, whereas rock roses would have been abundant. It is notable that labdanum, derived from these rock roses, was used in perfumes, cough mixtures, and even as an antiseptic until the 20th century," the museum stated.

By Naila Huseynova