Our aim in this paper is twofold: first to provide a broad overview of current knowledge of the Neandertal archaeological record, and second, to provide an example of an energetics perspective on this archeological evidence. Neandertals hunted large mammals in their prime in a wide range of environments, and exploited a limited range of food items compared with some anatomically modern humans. In general, they made use of simple, low investment tools, with little change over time and space, and with an emphasis on the production of cutting tools, and invested little in spatial structure. The archaeological record left by Neandertals seems limited when compared to the Upper Paleolithic of Europe.
Explanations for the differences between the archeological record of Neandertals and Upper Paleolithic anatomically modern humans generally highlight supposed cognitive differences. We suggest that it would be worth investigating alternative explanations for these differences, starting from the observation that a number of studies have identified differences in energy use and requirements between the two species. We present an example of an application of an energetics perspective to the Neandertal archeological record, focusing on the use of space. This exercise yields interesting predictions for the archeological record, suggesting that this approach may be useful for explaining differences between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic record in Europe, as well as variation within these periods.
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Macdonald, K., Roebroeks, W., Verpoorte, A. (2009). An Energetics Perspective on the Neandertal Record. In: Hublin, JJ., Richards, M.P. (eds) The Evolution of Hominin Diets. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9699-0_16
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