Neandertals Used Rhinoceros Teeth as Multipurpose Tools

For a long time, the image of Neandertals has been one of simple survival. But new evidence suggests they were far more resourceful and cognitively complex than previously thought. A recent study reveals that these ancient hominids didn’t just hunt rhinoceroses for food—they turned their massive teeth into heavy-duty, multipurpose tools.

The Discovery of “Super-Hard” Toolkits

Archaeologists have long known that Neandertals used animal bones and antlers as hammers or “retouchers” to keep their stone tools sharp. However, teeth were rarely the focus of these studies until now. Intrigued by unusual markings on fossilized remains, Alicia Sanz-Royo from the University of Aberdeen and her colleagues surveyed a dozen archaeological sites across France and Spain.

At France’s Pech-de-l’Azé II and Spain’s El Castillo, the team discovered rhinoceros teeth featuring grooves, notches, scrapes, and sliding marks. Microscopic analysis confirmed these weren’t the result of chewing or natural decay before or after death; instead, they were the product of repeated, intentional hitting.

From Molars to Machinery: How They Were Used

About 100,000 years ago, Neandertals coexisted with several rhino species in Europe, including the narrow-nosed rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus hemitoechus). The research, published in the May Journal of Human Evolution, indicates that Neandertals exploited the hardness, robustness, and durability of these massive molars to create versatile tools.

The researchers identified two primary ways these teeth were used:

• As Hammers: Neandertals used the teeth to sculpt and shape stone tools.
• As Anvils: The teeth served as stable platforms for processing materials like leather and vegetable fibers.

“This study is important because it opens the possibility that, in addition to bones and antlers, teeth — which are a superhard material — were also very useful,” says Sanz-Royo.

Proving the Theory Through Modern Replication

To confirm their theory, the researchers used modern rhino teeth sourced from zoological reserves to reenact the tasks they suspected Neandertals performed. By using the teeth as hammers for stone sculpting and as anvils for cutting hides and fibers, they produced damage patterns that closely matched the marks found on the fossils.

The experiments also revealed that Neandertals weren’t just using whatever they found. They were selective. The researchers found that larger teeth with flatter surfaces were the most comfortable and effective, providing a stable platform for precision work. This suggests Neandertals intentionally chose specific teeth based on the size and shape required for the job.

What This Means for Neandertal Intelligence

This discovery shifts our understanding of Neandertal cognitive complexity. At the El Castillo cave alone, researchers found 202 rhino teeth, 25 of which bore these specific use marks. This volume suggests a planned, intentional behavior rather than a random, opportunistic act.

The ability to recognize the material properties of a tooth and select the right one for a specific technical task is a sophisticated trait. Archaeologist José Ramos-Muñoz of the University of Cadiz, who was not involved in the study, notes that using animal remains for technology is a “trait of modernity.”

As anthropologists continue to debate the extent of Neandertal symbolic thought and intelligence, discoveries like these provide compelling evidence that their toolkit—and their minds—were far more advanced than we once believed.