Archaeologists have discovered a “Neanderthal glue factory” dating back 65,000 years. According to a new study published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews in November, Neanderthals may have used a type of oven to produce glue.The sticky material is made from iron and would have helped Neanderthals produce weapons and other tools.
The factory is an achievement 20,000 years before modern humans (Homo sapiens) set foot in the area.
Through a carefully crafted structure, Neanderthals were able to control fire, control the temperature of the fire, and produce their own artifacts.
Scientists made and tested a replica of the fireplace, and after about four hours of work, they had enough resin to attach two stone points to spears (Image: Juan Ochando et al. Quaternary Science Reviews; CC-by-4.0) Production of glue by ancient Neanderthals was known to archaeologists, the Neanderthal resin glue, which is also used in cave art made with materials such as resin and other sticky ocher substances (usually a red mineral).
This glue was used to attach nails or stone points to wooden handles.
But a recent discovery has drawn attention because it shows that, even in the distant past, Neanderthals were highly skilled and sophisticated engineers in glue production.
The Neanderthal oven may seem simple at first glance, but scientists say it is a feat of precision engineering when analyzed in detail.
The structure surrounds a circular well about 22 centimeters wide and 3.5 centimeters deep.
“This structure revealed a previously unknown way for Neanderthals to control and use fire,” the researchers wrote in the study. The vertical walls are cut straight and well finished, and are accompanied by two excavated passages.
Each of these passages was about 2.5 inches long and extended to the north and south sides of the shaft.
As it burned, archaeologists found traces of charcoal and partially burned roses (a plant with large, white flowers).
In addition, vegetable resin crystals and thin branches of local plants were also detected.
For the analysis, archaeologists collected samples from the walls and floor of the oven and used gas chromatography mass spectrometry – a technique used to identify different chemicals in a sample of material.
In addition to the elements mentioned above, guano also contains traces of urea and zinc (derived from bird or bat droppings), chemicals associated with burning, and litter residue.
The Engineering Behind Neanderthal Glue Factories To make these “glue factories,” researchers note that Neanderthals may have filled the well with rockrose buds that, when heated, produce a sticky, dark-brown resin.
Neanderthals lined the pit with wet sand and earth, possibly mixed with guano (material derived from the accumulation of droppings and bodies of birds and bats) to help seal the pit and control the amount of oxygen entering the furnace.
Finally, a small fire was lit with thin branches on the surface of the pit to keep the rock layers below warm.
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What is a Neanderthal and why did this species become extinct? Neanderthal legacy: scientific advances in understanding the relationship with Homo sapiens The Neanderthal lineage was separated by 50 thousand years. According to the researchers, the ingenuity of the oven lies in the steps above, which were calculated to the millimeter.
For example, light branches were not chosen “by chance”. This is because thin paints help control the temperature of the fire better.
The temperature also had to be controlled, as the rose petals were heated to 150 degrees Fahrenheit to create a sticky resin – otherwise the glue would burn rather than remain liquid.