Study: Neanderthals invented their own tech, didn't copy others

Denyse O'Leary
May 6, 2025 3 MINUTE READ

At Ars Technica, science writer Kiona N. Smith notes another instance of Neanderthals, once thought to be comparatively slow-witted, taking the lead in developing a technology:



High resolution microscopic photograph of the tip of
the specimen (A) and two high resolution microscopic
photographs (B and C) detailing flattened areas on the
tip (indicated with white rectangles, and numbered 1
and 2). Credit: Liubov V. Golovanova et al


Archaeologists recently unearthed a bone projectile point someone dropped on a cave floor between 70,000 and 80,000 years ago—which, based on its location, means that said someone must have been a Neanderthal.

The point (or in paleoarchaeologist Liubov V. Golovanova and colleagues’ super-technical archaeological terms, “a unique pointy bone artifact”) is the oldest bone tip from a hunting weapon ever found in Europe. It’s also evidence that Neanderthals figured out how to shape bone into smooth, aerodynamic projectiles on their own, without needing to copy those upstart Homo sapiens. Along with the bone tools, jewelry, and even rope that archaeologists have found at other Neanderthal sites, the projectile is one more clue pointing to the fact that Neanderthals were actually pretty sharp.

“Neanderthals invented their own bone weapon technology by 80,000 years ago,” May 2, 2025

More:
https://mindmatters.ai/brief/study-neanderthals-invented-their-own-tech-didnt-copy-others/