Overview

• Neanderthals used a sophisticated multi-component adhesive made from bitumen and ochre to create stone tools, indicating advanced cognitive abilities.
• The discovery, based on analysis of tools from the Le Moustier site in France, provides the earliest evidence of complex adhesive use in Europe.
• This adhesive technology, previously attributed only to early Homo sapiens in Africa, suggests Neanderthals had similar thought patterns to modern humans.
• Researchers found that mixing ochre with bitumen created a malleable, non-sticky mass ideal for forming tool handles, showcasing Neanderthal ingenuity.
• The findings challenge previous notions of Neanderthals' intellectual capabilities and contribute to our understanding of human evolution.