Neanderthals reused turtle shells in smart and creative ways

A still lakeshore in ancient Europe does not immediately suggest a hotbed of ingenuity. Yet fresh research indicates that Neanderthals found unexpected uses for even the smallest animals.

These early humans were not merely taking prey for food; they watched the world around them, adjusted their behaviour, and applied what they learned in ways that continue to surprise researchers. New findings from a well-known German site add further detail to that picture.

A snapshot of ancient life at Neumark Nord (Neanderthals)

Researchers analysed turtle remains recovered from Neumark Nord in present-day Saxony Anhalt, Germany. The site offers an unusually rich view of Neanderthal life during a warm phase known as the Last Interglacial.

The work was led by scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, MONREPOS, and Leiden University.

Neumark Nord differs from many archaeological localities because it provides what researchers describe as a “snapshot” of activities in one place over a relatively short period. That makes it easier to reconstruct everyday behaviour without blending evidence from widely separated times or locations.

The focus of the study was European pond turtles-small animals associated with lakes and wetlands. The findings represent the first unambiguous evidence that Neanderthals used turtles in regions north of the Alps.

Neanderthals and turtle shells

Using modern methods including high-resolution 3D scanning, the team examined 92 fragments of turtle shell. A large number of pieces carried cut marks on the inside of the shell, indicating deliberate, controlled processing.

The marks show that Neanderthals detached limbs, divided the carcass, and cleaned the shell with care. Some traces cluster around joints, suggesting a step-by-step disarticulation. Other cuts point to the removal of soft tissue and internal organs.

“Our data provide the first evidence that Neanderthals also hunted and processed turtles north of the Alps, beyond the Mediterranean region,” said Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser, first author of the study from Johannes Gutenberg University.

The thoroughness of the cleaning hints at a further purpose: the shells were probably not treated as mere discard. Instead, Neanderthals seem likely to have kept and reused them.

More than just a source of food

On the surface, hunting turtles might look like a straightforward attempt to obtain something to eat. The wider evidence from Neumark Nord, however, points in another direction.

The site has yielded thousands of animal remains, among them deer, cattle, and even enormous elephants-species that would have provided vastly more meat and energy than small turtles.

“We can virtually rule this out given the abundance of remains from large, high-yield prey animals at this site. There was in all likelihood a complete caloric surplus,” said Gaudzinski-Windheuser.

In other words, food supply was unlikely to be the driving factor. So what drew Neanderthals to turtles? The researchers propose alternative motivations, such as preference for flavour, curiosity, or potential health-related uses. In later periods of human history, pond turtles were used medicinally, particularly in relation to strength and lung health.

Pond turtles and Neanderthal children

European pond turtles are both small and slow-moving, which makes them relatively easy to catch. For that reason, the team suggests that children may have been involved in collecting them.

This possibility adds a more intimate dimension to the scene: younger members of a group could have taken on simple tasks near the water, learning through participation while still contributing to daily life.

“With a weight of around one kilogram, pond turtles have a comparatively low nutritional value,” said Gaudzinski-Windheuser.

“However, they are relatively easy to catch and may therefore have been hunted by children. Their shells may then have been processed into tools.”

The evidence thus points towards a social setting that included teaching, cooperation, and shared work.

Shells turned into useful tools

The most compelling indication of reuse lies in the preparation of the shells. Researchers observed careful scraping across the inner surfaces, consistent with deliberately readying the material for a second function.

The team suggests the shells could have served as small containers or scoop-like implements. In one part of Neumark Nord, shell remains were found close to areas where Neanderthals processed animal fat, which supports the idea that shells were used for practical tasks such as scooping or carrying substances.

Such choices reflect forethought and inventiveness: useful materials were not simply thrown away, and even a modest turtle shell could be put to work.

Neanderthals ate many different foods

The turtle evidence also fits within a broader pattern of dietary breadth. At Neumark Nord, the remains span animals of very different sizes, from small turtles weighing about one kilogram to elephants weighing more than ten tonnes.

Plant foods also featured in the diet. Finds including hazelnuts, acorns, and berries indicate that nuts and fruits were significant components alongside meat.

Overall, the picture is one of adaptability. Neanderthals responded flexibly to local conditions and drew on a wide range of resources rather than relying on a single food source.

A smarter image of Neanderthals

For many years, Neanderthals were often portrayed as uncomplicated big-game hunters. Studies like this challenge that narrow view.

“Our current results shed new light on the ecological flexibility and complex survival strategies of Neanderthals, which went far beyond simple caloric maximization,” said Gaudzinski-Windheuser.

The evidence from Neumark Nord suggests planning, intelligent tool use, and the purposeful exploitation of both large and small animals. Life beside these lakes was not only about getting by; it also involved reading the environment closely and using what it offered in resourceful ways.

“This discovery reminds us that intelligence has deep roots. Even thousands of years ago, humans found creative ways to live, learn, and adapt.”