Archaeologists Uncover 65,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Hearth for Tar Production

Discovery in Gibraltar's Vanguard Cave suggests Neanderthals used advanced fire techniques to create tar for tools and weapons.

Researchers found a 65,000-year-old hearth in Vanguard Cave, part of Gibraltar's Gorham's Cave Complex, believed to have been used by Neanderthals to produce tar.
Chemical analysis revealed traces of charcoal, pollen, and tar-like crystals, likely derived from the resin of the gum rockrose plant, abundant in the region.
Scientists recreated the hearth using Neanderthal-era materials and techniques, successfully producing tar to construct stone-tipped spears.
The findings indicate a sophisticated understanding of fire and materials, as Neanderthals appear to have designed the hearth specifically for tar extraction.
While the study provides compelling evidence, some researchers suggest further analysis is needed to confirm the hearth's primary purpose as a tar production site.