Artist's impression of a Neanderthal family at the coastal Monte Clérigo tracksite in Portugal. (Neto de Carvalho et al. via SWNS)
By Dean Murray
Neanderthal families spent days at the beach, new research shows.
Archaeologists have uncovered remarkable evidence that Neanderthals roamed the shores of Portugal around 80,000 years ago, challenging old stereotypes of these early humans as strictly land-bound hunters.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers report the discovery of fossilized hominin footprints along the Portuguese coastline, suggesting Neanderthals walked along beaches and used coastal ecosystems.
Hominin footprints in Pleistocene coastal deposits at the coastal site sof interest in Portugal. (Neto de Carvalho et al. via SWNS)
They include what appears to be family-sized groups from seasonal hunting campsites walking along coastal dune systems in the Algarve region.
At Monte Clérigo, researchers identified five trackways and 26 Neanderthal footprints, including those left by adults and a toddler. At Praia do Telheiro, they found an isolated footprint attributed to an adolescent or adult female, along with other fossilised animal tracks.
Hominin footprints in Pleistocene coastal deposits at the coastal site sof interest in Portugal. (Neto de Carvalho et al. via SWNS)
The study reports: "At the Monte Clérigo site, the presence of footprints attributed to, at least one male adult, one child, and one toddler, negotiating the steep slope of a dune, allows us to speculate about close proximity to the campsite."
The footprint fossils, pressed into ancient sediments, reveal that Neanderthals explored tidal flats, foraged for food, and likely made use of the bounty provided by the Atlantic coastline.
The research adds to a growing body of evidence that these early humans were far more adaptable than once believed, making sophisticated use of their environments beyond inland hunting.
