Excavations at the renowned Palaeolithic site of Neumark-Nord, located in present-day Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, yielded numerous turtle shell fragments that stiffly challenge previous assumptions about Neanderthal dietary practices. By employing advanced techniques such as high-resolution 3D scanning, the researchers were able to meticulously analyze a significant sample—92 shell fragments—that displayed cut marks predominantly on their inner surfaces. These incisions reveal deliberate butchering behaviors: precise detachment of limbs, removal of internal organs, and thorough cleaning of the turtle shells. This evidence marks the first confirmed case of Neanderthals hunting and processing turtles north of the Alps, expanding the known geographic range of such behaviors beyond the southern Mediterranean basin.

Importantly, the research team argues convincingly that turtles were unlikely pursued for nutritional needs. The abundance of remains from large mammals — including deer, cattle, horses, and the colossal European straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), which could weigh up to ten tonnes — suggests an environment rich in high-calorie resources. Previous studies at Neumark-Nord have demonstrated the existence of organized Neanderthal “fat factories,” where fat was systematically extracted from large mammal bones, further underscoring the surplus of caloric intake available to these hominins.

The relatively modest weight and caloric content of the pond turtle, weighing approximately one kilogram each, support the interpretation that these animals served a purpose beyond nutrition. Researchers propose that the turtles’ shells were repurposed as tools, possibly fashioned into small containers or scoop-like implements. The inherent durability and shape of the shells would have made them useful in a variety of practical applications, reflecting an adaptive and resourceful facet of Neanderthal technology previously underestimated in paleoanthropological discourse.

Moreover, the ease of capturing pond turtles could imply that juvenile Neanderthals, possibly children, played an active role in this aspect of resource procurement. Catching these creatures would have provided a manageable task for younger members of the group while simultaneously contributing to the community’s technological toolkit. This reinterpretation highlights a complex social structure where different age groups participated in diverse subsistence and material culture activities, pointing to a nuanced division of labor within Neanderthal groups.

Beyond practical considerations, an intriguing alternative hypothesis is the potential cultural or medicinal use of turtle parts. Ethnographic analogies drawn from later indigenous populations indicate that turtles may have held specific symbolic or pharmacological significance. Although speculative, this suggestion invites interdisciplinary research linking archaeology with ethnobiology and cognitive science to explore the cultural dimensions of Neanderthal life.

This study enriches the growing body of evidence portraying Neanderthals not as simplistic primitive hunter-gatherers but rather as intelligent and ecologically flexible hominins with complex survival strategies. They demonstrated the capacity to maximize available resources creatively and beyond mere caloric maximization, adapting technologies and cultural behaviors to their unique environments and social needs.

The collaborative analysis conducted by MONREPOS/LEIZA, JGU Mainz, and Leiden University stems from collections excavated from the former Neumark-Nord lignite open-pit mine area. These extensive ongoing research projects benefit greatly from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt, ensuring sustained access to critical archaeological materials and support for multidisciplinary inquiry.

Beyond the specific findings regarding turtles, the research methods employed reflect cutting-edge approaches in paleolithic archaeology. The utilization of high-resolution 3D scanning enabled researchers to discern subtle yet definitive cut marks and other surface modifications, surpassing traditional visual inspection. This technology offers a non-destructive means to analyze fragile material remains and reconstruct the intricate behaviors of ancient humans with unprecedented clarity.

The implications of this work extend beyond understanding Neanderthal subsistence. They bear on broader debates about cognitive capacities, tool-making sophistication, and the role of symbolism or specialized knowledge in early human evolution. By illuminating a previously overlooked facet of Neanderthal life, the study pushes back against outdated stereotypes and affirms the complexity of our closest evolutionary relatives.

As the scientific community digests these new findings, future research directions will likely investigate the wider application of similar behaviors across other sites and time periods, potentially reshaping established narratives about Neanderthal lifeways in differing ecological contexts. Such studies are essential in piecing together a comprehensive picture of hominin adaptability and cultural expression over millennia.

In summary, this landmark study on the European pond turtle shells from Neumark-Nord enriches our understanding of Neanderthal ingenuity, cultural depth, and ecological resourcefulness during the Last Interglacial. By creatively reusing animal shells to manufacture tools or containers, Neanderthals showcased a behavioral sophistication that continues to fascinate and challenge our perceptions of prehistoric human behavior.

Subject of Research: Animals

Article Title: Shell game: Neanderthal use of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Last Interglacial landscape of Neumark-Nord (Germany)

News Publication Date: 8-Apr-2026

Web References:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-42113-x

Image Credits: Creative illustration by Nicole Viehofer/MONREPOS (LEIZA)

The significance of Neumark-Nord lies not only in the sheer abundance of elephant remains but also in their contextual association with late Middle Paleolithic human activity. These extensive finds form a crucial nexus for understanding both paleoecology and early human predation strategies. To unravel the life histories of these elephants and their intricate relationship with Neanderthals, an international team of researchers from Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States employed state-of-the-art analytical techniques combining isotope geochemistry and palaeoproteomics, fostering a multidisciplinary approach straddling archaeology, paleontology, and molecular biology.

Central to their investigation was a detailed examination of the teeth of four individual elephants using isotopic signatures derived from carbon (δ^13C), oxygen (δ^18O), and strontium isotopes (^87Sr/^86Sr), coupled with protein analyses preserved in dental enamel. Strontium isotope analysis, performed along the incremental growth lines of the molars, illuminated the geographical mobility of these animals across the European landscape. The variances in strontium isotope ratios revealed that several elephants undertook migrations spanning distances up to 300 kilometers over multiple years before settling in the Neumark-Nord region. This migratory behavior underscores the dynamic spatial ecology of Palaeoloxodon antiquus, contrasting with assumptions of strictly localized ranges.

Simultaneously, the isotopic analysis of carbon and oxygen provided critical insights into the dietary strategies and climatic conditions experienced by these prehistoric giants. Carbon isotope ratios elucidate the types of vegetation consumed, reflecting the ecological niches exploited, while oxygen isotopes shed light on climatic and hydrological variability, potentially influencing the movement and behavior of the elephants. The rigorous isotope measurements conducted at Frankfurt’s Isotope and Element Research Center (FIERCE) and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz allowed the researchers to reconstruct an unprecedented oral travel diary, tracing the complex ecological and environmental contexts encountered over the lifespans of these mammals.

Complementing the isotopic data, the application of palaeoproteomics opened a new frontier in paleontological research by successfully determining the sex of individual elephants through protein residues preserved in tooth enamel. This methodological breakthrough, marking the first use of such a technique on European straight-tusked elephants, illuminated sex-specific life histories and social structure within the population. Among the four individuals analyzed, three males and one likely female were identified. Notably, the males displayed isotopic signatures indicative of broader territorial ranges compared to the female, mirroring behavioral patterns observed in extant elephant species and suggesting intricate social organization.

The implications of these findings for understanding Neanderthal behavior are profound. The consistent concentration of elephant remains, combined with isotopic evidence, indicates that Neanderthals at Neumark-Nord engaged in deliberate, planned hunting of these massive animals rather than opportunistic scavenging. Such organized hunting implies a sophisticated comprehension of elephant ecology and movement patterns, necessitating cooperative strategies and knowledge of the landscape garnered over extended periods. This challenges traditional perceptions of Neanderthal subsistence strategies and social complexity, positioning them as adept predators capable of targeting megafauna.

Further archaeological and paleoecological evidence from Neumark-Nord complements this behavioral narrative. The site has yielded traces of systematic butchery and carcass processing spread across multiple locations, demonstrating an advanced division of labor and resource exploitation. Neanderthals extracted fat from large mammals at scale, supplemented their diet with plant foods like hazelnuts and acorns, and likely modified their environment through controlled use of fire to shape local ecosystems. These findings collectively suggest that Neanderthal populations at Neumark-Nord functioned within larger, socially organized groups with nuanced knowledge of their ecological niche.

Despite the critical inferences drawn from isotopic and proteomic data, several questions about the population dynamics of Neumark’s elephants remain open. Specifically, it is unclear whether Neumark-Nord served as a common aggregation point for elephants migrating from disparate regions or if it functioned as a permanent homeland, with individuals occasionally dispersing for adolescence or mating purposes. To address these uncertainties, ongoing genetic analyses aim to reconstruct the population structure and movement patterns more precisely, potentially yielding further insights into the interplay between elephant demography and Neanderthal predation strategies.

The collaborative effort behind this groundbreaking research involved a consortium of leading institutions, encompassing the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Goethe University Frankfurt, California Institute of Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, MONREPOS Archaeological Research Center and Museum for Human Behavioral Evolution, Leiden University, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, and Columbia University. Such interdisciplinary cooperation underscores the complexity of reconstructing ancient life histories and the necessity of integrating advanced technologies from diverse scientific domains.

In essence, the Neumark-Nord site encapsulates a vibrant snapshot of Pleistocene life, where massive herbivores roamed shifting lake-dominated landscapes and Neanderthals not only survived but thrived through sophisticated ecological adaptations. The revelation of elephants’ long-distance migrations, their social structuring, and the evidence of strategic human hunting behavior mark a pivotal advance in understanding the Pleistocene ecosystems of Europe. These insights reshape our comprehension of Neanderthal cognitive capacities, social organization, and interactions with megafauna, positioning them as an active and influential component of their environment rather than mere passive inhabitants.

Looking forward, the integration of isotopic, proteomic, and genomic data promises to further unravel the enigmatic relationships between prehistoric humans and their megafaunal contemporaries. The Neumark-Nord site, with its rich depositional record and wealth of archaeological and paleontological data, remains a cornerstone for such multidisciplinary investigations. As techniques evolve and more data accumulate, the story of life during the last interglacial and Neanderthal ecological strategies will continue to emerge with increasing clarity and complexity.

Subject of Research:
Article Title: Life histories of straight-tusked elephants from the Last Interglacial Neanderthal site of Neumark-Nord (~125 ka)

News Publication Date: 13-Mar-2026

Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adz0114

Keywords: Paleontology, Fossils, Macrofossils, Animal fossils, Paleobiology, Paleozoology, Vertebrate paleontology, Chemical composition, Chemical physics, Chemical elements, Oxygen, Carbon, Isotopes, Chemistry, Physical sciences