For over a century, scientists have debated the dietary habits of early humans and their Neanderthal cousins. New research published in Science Advances provides evidence that Neanderthals were rendering fat from crushed animal bones around 125,000 years ago in Germany.
To survive, Neanderthals required a high-calorie diet consisting of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. However, their bodies had a limit on the amount of protein intake they could handle, leading to “rabbit starvation” – a fatal condition caused by excessive protein consumption.
In winter and early spring, carbohydrate-rich plants were scarce, making fat an essential source of sustenance. Researchers discovered that Neanderthals processed at least 172 animals in what they called a “fat factory,” crushing bones into small pieces and heating them to release nutritious fats.
The study found evidence that Neanderthals boiled bones to extract fats and may have skimmed them off for later use. While no preserved containers were found, the researchers believe that organic materials like deer skin or birch bark might have been used to process food.
This discovery provides valuable insights into Neanderthal adaptability and survival methods, highlighting their sophisticated approach to food processing. However, more research is needed to determine when these “fat factories” became common and whether this was an isolated event.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-evidence-neanderthals-fat-years-early.html