Neanderthals Crafted Advanced Tools with Complex Glue, Revealing High Cognition

Analysis of ancient tools from France shows Neanderthals used sophisticated adhesives, challenging previous views of their intellectual capabilities.

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.