Ancient humans were skinning bears for fur 320,000 years ago, study says trends now

Ancient humans were skinning bears for fur 320,000 years ago, study says trends now
Ancient humans were skinning bears for fur 320,000 years ago, study says trends now

Ancient humans were skinning bears for fur 320,000 years ago, study says trends now

Bear bones found in Germany suggest ancient humans were skinning the animals for their fur at least 320,000 years ago, researchers say. 

Throat and foot bones that once belonged to an extinct cave bear were discovered at the Lower Paleolithic site of Schöningen in Lower Saxony, Germany. 

Researchers found very thin cutmarks on the bones that 'provide early evidence for the exploitation of bear skins', they say. 

The skin would have helped to keep the hunters warm so they were able to survive the European winters during the Old Stone Age.

Humans have been using bear skins to protect themselves from cold weather for at least 300,000 years. This is suggested by cut marks on the metatarsal (pictured) and phalanx of a cave bear discovered at the Lower Paleolithic site of Schöningen in Lower Saxony, Germany

Humans have been using bear skins to protect themselves from cold weather for at least 300,000 years. This is suggested by cut marks on the metatarsal (pictured) and phalanx of a cave bear discovered at the Lower Paleolithic site of Schöningen in Lower Saxony, Germany

What was the cave bear?

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a prehistoric species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene epoch. 

The species became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum. 

In European cave deposits, the remains of more than 100,000 cave bears have been found. 

Cave bear remains have been found in England, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy, and Greece, and the animal may have reached North Africa.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica  

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The new study was led by experts at the University of Tübingen and the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Tübingen, Germany.

'The very thin cutmarks found on the Schöningen specimens indicate delicate butchering and show similarities in butchery patterns to bears from other Paleolithic sites,' they say in their paper. 

The bones belonged to a cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), a prehistoric species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia and became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum. 

The species could reach more than 10 feet (three metres) in length and weigh more than one metric tonne during the ice ages, although cave bears in Schöningen during the summer would have been smaller than this. 

As omnivores and frequent cave dwellers, cave bears shared their environments with humans, and interactions between humans and bears would likely have occurred. 

However, the accumulation of large masses of cave bear remains, sometimes found in 'peculiar constellations' on the cave floor, has led to the interpretation that cave bears were actively hunted and worshiped as part of a cult. 

It's also possible that humans would have hunted bears for their meat; however, the position of cuts on these particular specimens – the metatarsal bones (in the foot) and the phalanx (in the throat) – suggest the bear's skin was removed too. 

The cutmarked bear metatarsal and phalanx from Schöningen 'provide early evidence for the exploitation of bear skins', the researchers say. Pictured, Detail of the precise and fine cut marks on the metatarsal of the cave bear

The cutmarked bear metatarsal and phalanx from Schöningen 'provide early evidence for the exploitation of bear skins', the researchers say. Pictured, Detail of the precise and fine cut marks on the metatarsal of the cave bear

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene epoch. Image shows an illustration of the species, which could reach more than 10 feet in length (3 metres) and a weight of more than one metric tonne during the ice ages

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene epoch. Image shows an illustration of the species, which could reach more than 10 feet in length (3 metres) and a weight of more than one metric tonne during the ice ages

Cave bear extinction was likely due to large sinuses that impaired chewing, study says

Cave bears may have

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