Elucidating the use of rhinoceros teeth by Neanderthals: Between experiments and the fossil record
The use of faunal remains as tools by Neanderthals has long intrigued researchers. These remains include mammal teeth, which are particularly durable and resistant. Nevertheless, there is a significant gap in taphonomic analysis of dental remains, and archaeological experiments with tooth tools remain scarce. Recent studies suggest that Paleolithic groups may have used rhinoceros teeth as tools. This work seeks to elucidate this question by applying a multidisciplinary approach, including taphonomic and traceological analyses using various microscopic imaging techniques. We applied this approach to several rhinoceros teeth from key archaeological, paleontological, and contemporary collections. For the first time, we also set up controlled archaeological experiments on rhinoceros teeth. The results shed light on the potential role of rhinoceros teeth as versatile tools during the Middle Paleolithic in Western Europe and contribute to our understanding of Neanderthals' adaptive subsistence strategies and material culture.
Authors
- Antigone Uzunidis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3500-7080)
- Alicia Sanz‐Royo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5275-5996)
- Delphine Vettese (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6441-6054)
- David Pleurdeau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9741-6704)
- Magali Fabre
- Christophe Falguères (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0644-4852)
- Cyrielle Mathias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0050-153X)
- Qingfeng Shao
- Camille Daujeard
- Juan Marín
- Christine Hatté
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Nanjing Normal University (CN)
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (ES)
- Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Archéologie et Histoire Ancienne : Méditerranée – Europe (FR)
- Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques (FR)
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (FR)
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (FR)
- CEA Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Institut National de Recherches Archéologiques Préventives (FR)
- Department of Archaeology (LK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Human Evolution
- Published
- 2026-04-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2026.103829
- Primary Topic
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Universitat de Barcelona
- Université de Bordeaux
- Conseil National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Sorbonne Université
- Institut écologie et environnement