The Fauna from the Middle Paleolithic: Settlement, Dietary Patterns and Technology in the Swabian Jura

Neanderthals in the Swabian Jura, Germany, exhibited variable settlement patterns and dietary strategies during the Middle Paleolithic (MP), as revealed by faunal remains from caves like Bockstein. This site was the most frequently visited, with horse dominating their diet alongside reindeer and bovids. While megafauna like mammoth and woolly rhinoceros were occasionally exploited, their role in MP subsistence remains debated, contrasting with higher-frequency exploitation during later periods such as the Aurignacian. Burned bone remains indicate spatial overlap between Neanderthals, carnivores, and cave bears. The study also highlights retouchers—a common osseous tool—as a key technological feature of this era. These findings, derived from 150 years of research, enrich our understanding of Neanderthal adaptations in Central Europe by comparing data from the Swabian Jura with the Rhine region.

Kitagawa, K., Münzel, S. C., Starkovich, B. M., Toniato, G., Krönneck, P., & Conard, N. J. (2024). The Fauna from the Middle Paleolithic: Settlement, Dietary Patterns and Technology in the Swabian Jura. The Rhine during the Middle Paleolithic: Boundary or Corridor?, 67–95. https://doi.org/10.51315/9783935751353.004