Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that Neanderthals rendered fat from bones 125,000 years ago. Modern humans have been using the process for at least 28,000 years, but the latest finding of 'fat factories' reveals that Neanderthals were doing it much earlier. The study appeared on 2 July in Science Advances1. Fat is a vital component of the hunter-gatherer diet, especially during the winter months, when animals are lean and hunted meat alone is not sufficient for sustenance. Eating lean protein without other nutrients can lead to protein poisoning, also known as 'rabbit starvation'. Fat from bone marrow is a high-calorie source of nutrition, and is an important addition to a protein-heavy diet. During the process of rendering fat, bones were broken down into small segments using stone hammers and were boiled to extract fat, which rose to the top and could be extracted after cooling. Containers made from bark and animal tissue have been suggested for this process, although such...
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