Neanderthal Ingenuity: The Tar-Burning Hearth at Vanguard Cave

How Neanderthals Mastered Fire to Innovate and Thrive in the Paleolithic Era

The discovery of a sophisticated fire structure used by Neanderthals in Gibraltar's Vanguard Cave has transformed how we perceive their technological and cognitive capabilities. This groundbreaking study¹ reveals how fire was not just a survival tool but a medium for innovation, allowing Neanderthals to create tar—a key material for hafting tools and weapons. The findings underscore their ability to solve complex problems and organize tasks with remarkable precision.

The anthropogenic structure could have been made following these steps. From T-0 to T-8. Details of each step in the main text and Supplementary Information.

A Hearth That Changed the Narrative

The hearth discovered in Vanguard Cave, dating to approximately 65,000 years ago, represents an extraordinary milestone in Neanderthal technology. Unlike simple fire pits, this structure was meticulously designed to produce tar, an adhesive critical for attaching stone tools to wooden shafts. The structure’s complexity aligns with theoretical predictions about the kind of advanced heating techniques needed to obtain birch tar.

“The structure aligns with theoretical models predicting the use of specialized heating techniques for birch tar production, a hallmark of Neanderthal ingenuity,” the researchers note.

This discovery reveals a new dimension of Neanderthal life, challenging outdated stereotypes of them as rudimentary and unsophisticated.

How Did Neanderthals Make Tar?

The tar-making process began with the construction of a layered trench at the hearth site. A base layer composed of guano mixed with sand acted as an insulator, stabilizing the structure and maintaining optimal thermal conditions. Above this, Neanderthals burned resin-rich plants such as rockrose in a low-oxygen (anoxic) environment, a method designed to prevent the materials from combusting completely. This controlled heating extracted tar from the resin, which was collected and used as an adhesive.

Advanced geochemical analysis provided key evidence for this process. Researchers detected levoglucosan, a compound formed during plant combustion, and retene, a marker of resinous material burning, in sediment samples from the hearth. Experimental reconstructions verified that tar could indeed be produced using these materials and methods, confirming the viability of the Neanderthals' innovative approach.

“Our results confirm the viability of Neanderthal techniques for tar production, demonstrating their innovative use of fire,” the study concludes.

Fire Technology and Social Complexity

The sophistication of this tar-making process reflects more than just technical skill; it reveals critical aspects of Neanderthal behavior and social organization. Producing tar required advanced planning, from the selection and preparation of materials to the construction and operation of the hearth. Such tasks likely involved collaboration and the transmission of knowledge within the group, suggesting that these skills were culturally shared over generations.

The implications for Neanderthal social behavior are profound. The ability to control fire so precisely and use it for advanced technological purposes points to a highly organized society capable of complex planning and cooperative efforts. This discovery supports growing evidence that Neanderthals possessed the cognitive abilities and social structures necessary for cultural innovation.

“The high degree of planning and the repeated use of such techniques suggest cultural transmission, a hallmark of advanced social organization,” the authors argue.

Reframing Neanderthals as Innovators

The discovery of this hearth marks a pivotal shift in how we view Neanderthals. Far from being primitive, they emerge as technologically adept and resourceful individuals who could manipulate their environment to meet their needs. Their mastery of fire, exemplified by this tar-burning structure, underscores their innovative spirit and problem-solving capabilities.

Moreover, this finding contributes to a broader narrative that places Neanderthals as active participants in the cultural evolution of early humans. Their ability to develop and share complex technologies like tar-making illustrates their pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of human development.

Related Studies

These studies provide broader perspectives on Neanderthal fire management, tar production, and behavioral complexity.

1. Kozowyk, P. R. B., Poulis, J. A., & Langejans, G. H. J. (2019).
   A new experimental methodology for assessing adhesive properties shows that Neanderthals used the most suitable material available.
   Journal of Human Evolution, 137, 102671.
   DOI:10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.102671
   Highlights Neanderthal use of adhesive materials, demonstrating intentional production of birch tar through pyrotechnological processes.

2. Schmidt, P., Blessing, M., & Rageot, M. (2019).
   Birch tar production does not prove Neanderthal behavioral complexity.
   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(44), 21960–21962.
   DOI:10.1073/pnas.1911137116
   Challenges assumptions about behavioral complexity in Neanderthals, providing context for tar production.

3. Fajardo, S., Kozowyk, P. R. B., & Langejans, G. H. J. (2023).
   Measuring ancient technological complexity and its cognitive implications using Petri nets.
   Scientific Reports, 13, 16578.
   DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-42078-1
   Analyzes the complexity of tar production technologies and its cognitive implications for Neanderthals.

4. Mallol, C., & Aldeias, V. (2022).
   Fire among Neanderthals: Contexts, methods, and future directions.
   In The Last Neanderthals: Behavioral Complexity in Transition, pp. 147–165. Elsevier.
   DOI:10.1016/B978-0-12-821428-2.00014-7
   Discusses Neanderthal fire usage, including combustion structures related to tar production.

5. Leierer, L., Pérez, L., & Lagunilla, Á. H. (2020).
   It's getting hot in here—Microcontextual study of a potential pit hearth at the Middle Paleolithic site of El Salt, Spain.
   Journal of Archaeological Science, 117, 105116.
   DOI:10.1016/j.jas.2020.105116
   Investigates combustion features at El Salt, providing parallels for Neanderthal heating structures.

6. Agam, A., Richter, J., & Uthmeier, T. (2023).
   Flint heat treatment at the Late Neanderthal site Sesselfelsgrotte (Germany).
   Quaternary, 6(4), 52.
   DOI:10.3390/quat6040052
   Examines fire usage and its impact on Neanderthal toolmaking practices.

7. Bentsen, S. E. (2014).
   Using pyrotechnology: Fire-related features and activities with a focus on the African Middle Stone Age.
   Journal of Archaeological Research, 22(4), 563–602.
   DOI:10.1007/s10814-013-9069-x
   Contextualizes fire-related behaviors, providing comparative insights into Neanderthal pyrotechnology.

8. Langley, A., & Needham, A. (2021).
   Testing manganese dioxide as a fire-lighting aid in Neanderthal contexts.
   EXARC Journal.
   Link
   Explores experimental approaches to fire-making, highlighting Neanderthal use of natural materials.

9. Heyes, P., Anastasakis, K., & Van Hoesel, A. (2016).
   Selection and use of manganese dioxide by Neanderthals.
   Scientific Reports, 6, 22159.
   DOI:10.1038/srep22159
   Investigates the chemical properties of materials used in Neanderthal fire-making.

10. Knight, R. J. C. (2024).
    Neanderthal fuel selection as a cognitively modern process.
    Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
    PDF Available
    Highlights the selection and organization of resources for fire management in Neanderthal populations.

1. Ochando, J., Jiménez-Espejo, F. J., Giles-Guzmán, F., Neto de Carvalho, C., Carrión, J. S., Muñiz, F., Rubiales, J. M., Cura, P., Belo, J., Finlayson, S., Martrat, B., van Drooge, B. L., Jiménez-Moreno, G., García-Alix, A., Lozano Rodríguez, J. A., Albert, R. M., Ohkouchi, N., Ogawa, N., Suga, H., … Finlayson, C. (2024). A Neanderthal’s specialised burning structure compatible with tar obtention. Quaternary Science Reviews, 346(109025), 109025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109025