Early Neanderthals hunted ibex on steep mountain slopes

Approximately 300,000 years ago, Neanderthals displayed remarkable hunting skills, successfully targeting mountain goats along steep cliffs while managing well-structured camps. This shift in hunting practices—from the flat meadows of Western Europe to the rugged terrains of Eastern Europe—epitomizes their adaptability.

While traditionally known for hunting large game in more accessible landscapes, research suggests that the Neanderthals began including agile ibex in their dietary practices. They demonstrated advanced butchering techniques, effectively processing their kills in nearby caves, a testament to their cognitive capabilities. As Stefan Milošević from the University of Belgrade notes, “The approach of hunting ibex is completely different, because it lives on a very rugged and steep, barren terrain. This discovery indicates that early Neanderthals were already exploiting ecological niches previously untouched by any hominin.”

Neanderthals, who emerged around 400,000 years ago, have mostly been studied through remains found in Western Europe, primarily dating back less than 150,000 years. Therefore, the findings from the Velika Balanica cave in Serbia, where bone remains approximately 290,000 years old were discovered, add crucial insights into their timeline, lifestyle, and cultural practices.

Since the initial discovery, Milošević and his team have unearthed hundreds of stone tools and analyzed nearly 30,000 animal bone fragments within the cave. Intriguingly, about 75% of these fragments are tiny pieces measuring less than 2 centimeters, predominantly from ibex and red deer that were hunted during spring and summer, suggesting a pattern of seasonal habitation.

Evidence that some bones were burned and cracked open implies that Neanderthals may have heated the bones to extract marrow, using the remaining pieces as material to sustain their fires. Additionally, the presence of cut marks indicates tendon harvesting, probably utilized for ropes or nets. The deer remains appear to show a selective hunting pattern, favoring older youngsters and adult deer that promote herd viability. In contrast, the ibex were hunted across all life stages, suggesting that Neanderthals were still honing their skills in mountain goat hunting, likely employing sharpened sticks and rudimentary traps with a fair number of failed attempts.

Alongside these primary food sources, signs of wild boar, cave bears, wolves, foxes, leopards, and various bird species were also found in processed states. The organized placement of bones within different cave sections indicates specialized zones for various tasks, with a central hearth surrounded by discarded bones, and a tool workshop located near the cave entrance.

This new evidence of cognitive adaptability provides a picture of Neanderthals as creative problem solvers managing complex environments with skill. As José Carrión from the University of Murcia puts it, “What emerges from Balanica is a confirmation that Neanderthals were humans—intelligent, social, and extraordinarily adaptive.”

Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo from the Archaeological Institute of Mérida adds further insight, “These findings portray Neanderthals not only as resilient beings but as early experimenters with strategies and social organization often associated with much later human cultures,” suggesting that their sophistication was present much earlier than previously thought.