Neanderthals showed signs of nutritional stress during periods of extreme cold, according to a new study published in the July 2016 issue of the Journal of Human Evolution.

“Our research uncovers a pattern showing that cold, harsh environments were stressful for Neanderthals,” said lead author Dr. Jamie Hodgkins, from the University of Colorado Denver.

Dr. Hodgkins and co-authors analyzed the remains of prey animals and found that Neanderthals worked especially hard to extract every calorie from the meat and bones during colder time periods.

The team examined bones discovered in caves once inhabited by Neanderthals in southwestern France for marks demonstrating how the carcasses of deer and other animals were butchered and used for food.

“If cold climates stressed Neanderthals, their subsistence behaviors may have changed — requiring intensified use of prey through more extensive nutrient extraction from faunal carcasses,” the scientists said.

“To test this, an analysis of Neanderthal butchering was conducted on medium sized bovid/cervid remains composed of predominately red deer (Cervus elaphus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and roe deer (Capreolus caprelous) deposited during global warm and cold phases from two French sites: Pech de l’Azé IV and Roc de Marsal.”

During colder, glacial periods, the bones were more heavily processed. In particular, they showed higher frequencies of percussion marks, indicating a nutritional need to consume all of the marrow, probably signaling reduced food availability.

“As the climate got colder, Neanderthals had to put more into extracting nutrients from bones,” Dr. Hodgkins said.

“This is especially apparent in evidence that reveals Neanderthals attempted to break open even low marrow yield bones, like the small bones of the feet.”

The findings further support the hypothesis that changing climate was a factor in Neanderthal extinction.

“Our results illustrate that climate change has real effects,” Dr. Hodgkins said.

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Jamie Hodgkins et al. 2016. Climate-mediated shifts in Neandertal subsistence behaviors at Pech de l’Azé IV and Roc de Marsal (Dordogne Valley, France). Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 96, pp. 1-18; doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.03.009