Persistent predators at Schoningen

[Pandora]

Persistent predators: Zooarchaeological evidence for specialized horse
hunting at Schöningen 13II-4

Open access:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103590

Highlights

*The Schöningen “Spear Horizon” likely accumulated over a short period
of time.

*Middle Pleistocene hominins potentially occupied the Schöningen
lakeshore year-round.

*Schöningen hunters were highly selective in prey choice and prey target
groups.

*Carcass exploitation at Schöningen focused on situational needs.

Abstract

The Schöningen 13II-4 site is a marvel of Paleolithic archaeology. With
the extraordinary preservation of complete wooden spears and butchered
large mammal bones dating from the Middle Pleistocene, Schöningen
maintains a prominent position in the halls of human origins worldwide.
Here, we present the first analysis of the complete large mammal faunal
assemblage from Schöningen 13II-4, drawing on multiple lines of
zooarchaeological and taphonomic evidence to expose the full spectrum of
hominin activities at the site—before, during, and after the hunt. Horse
(Equus mosbachensis) remains dominate the assemblage and suggest a
recurrent ambush hunting strategy along the margins of the Schöningen
paleo-lake. In this regard, Schöningen 13II-4 provides the first
undisputed evidence for hunting of a single prey species that can be
studied from an in situ, open-air context. The Schöningen hominins
likely relied on cooperative hunting strategy to target horse family
groups, to the near exclusion of bachelor herds. Horse kills occurred
during all seasons, implying a year-round presence of hominins on the
Schöningen landscape. All portions of prey skeletons are represented in
the assemblage, many complete and in semiarticulation, with little
transport of skeletal parts away from the site. Butchery marks are
abundant, and adult carcasses were processed more thoroughly than were
juveniles. Numerous complete, unmodified bones indicated that lean meat
and marrow were not always so highly prized, especially in events
involving multiple kills when fat and animal hides may have received
greater attention. The behaviors displayed at Schöningen continue to
challenge our perceptions and models of past hominin lifeways, further
cementing Schöningen's standing as the archetype for understanding
hunting adaptations during the European Middle Pleistocene.

Well, that doesn't sound like diving for shellfish.

[erik simpson]

Post by Pandora
Persistent predators: Zooarchaeological evidence for specialized horse
hunting at Schöningen 13II-4
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103590
Highlights
*The Schöningen “Spear Horizon” likely accumulated over a short period
of time.
*Middle Pleistocene hominins potentially occupied the Schöningen
lakeshore year-round.
*Schöningen hunters were highly selective in prey choice and prey target
groups.
*Carcass exploitation at Schöningen focused on situational needs.
Abstract
The Schöningen 13II-4 site is a marvel of Paleolithic archaeology. With
the extraordinary preservation of complete wooden spears and butchered
large mammal bones dating from the Middle Pleistocene, Schöningen
maintains a prominent position in the halls of human origins worldwide.
Here, we present the first analysis of the complete large mammal faunal
assemblage from Schöningen 13II-4, drawing on multiple lines of
zooarchaeological and taphonomic evidence to expose the full spectrum of
hominin activities at the site—before, during, and after the hunt. Horse
(Equus mosbachensis) remains dominate the assemblage and suggest a
recurrent ambush hunting strategy along the margins of the Schöningen
paleo-lake. In this regard, Schöningen 13II-4 provides the first
undisputed evidence for hunting of a single prey species that can be
studied from an in situ, open-air context. The Schöningen hominins
likely relied on cooperative hunting strategy to target horse family
groups, to the near exclusion of bachelor herds. Horse kills occurred
during all seasons, implying a year-round presence of hominins on the
Schöningen landscape. All portions of prey skeletons are represented in
the assemblage, many complete and in semiarticulation, with little
transport of skeletal parts away from the site. Butchery marks are
abundant, and adult carcasses were processed more thoroughly than were
juveniles. Numerous complete, unmodified bones indicated that lean meat
and marrow were not always so highly prized, especially in events
involving multiple kills when fat and animal hides may have received
greater attention. The behaviors displayed at Schöningen continue to
challenge our perceptions and models of past hominin lifeways, further
cementing Schöningen's standing as the archetype for understanding
hunting adaptations during the European Middle Pleistocene.
Well, that doesn't sound like diving for shellfish.

Verhaegen never figured out how to read this NG.

[JTEM]

Post by erik simpson
Verhaegen never figured out how to read this NG.

You never learned to think, only spew dogma.

As is the norm, this is a single site. You base everything
on a single site. It tells you what one small population
did for a limited amount of time and you operate under the
assumption that it explains the evolution of the genus Homo.

Oh, deny it. It's not like you're aware of WHAT you position
is, other than rubber stamping the status quo...

How does this site explain the brain of Homo and our need
for DHA?

"Horsemeat has a lot of it."

No it doesn't.

How'd they get there? Did Homo evolve in Europe and did
Homo evolve elsewhere and migrate to Europe? This site
tells you... what? What does this site actually inform
you in regards to the origins of Homo? Hmm?

Oh, don't worry. You'll just take offense and then make
yourself certain that this means your right, even if
you have no idea about what, and that Aquatic Ape is wrong
else you couldn't feel these emotions now could you?

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by JTEM

Post by erik simpson
Verhaegen never figured out how to read this NG.

Oh, don't worry. You'll just take offense and then make
yourself certain that this means your right, even if
you have no idea about what, and that Aquatic Ape is wrong
else you couldn't feel these emotions now could you?

Aquatic Ape cannot be wrong since we have subcutaneous fat. It is so
plain and simple, you cannot not notice that people who don't notice
this are plain and simply stupid.

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by Pandora
Persistent predators: Zooarchaeological evidence for specialized horse
hunting at Schöningen 13II-4
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103590
Highlights
*The Schöningen “Spear Horizon” likely accumulated over a short period
of time.
*Middle Pleistocene hominins potentially occupied the Schöningen
lakeshore year-round.
*Schöningen hunters were highly selective in prey choice and prey target
groups.
*Carcass exploitation at Schöningen focused on situational needs.
Abstract
The Schöningen 13II-4 site is a marvel of Paleolithic archaeology. With
the extraordinary preservation of complete wooden spears and butchered
large mammal bones dating from the Middle Pleistocene, Schöningen
maintains a prominent position in the halls of human origins worldwide.
Here, we present the first analysis of the complete large mammal faunal
assemblage from Schöningen 13II-4, drawing on multiple lines of
zooarchaeological and taphonomic evidence to expose the full spectrum of
hominin activities at the site—before, during, and after the hunt. Horse
(Equus mosbachensis) remains dominate the assemblage and suggest a
recurrent ambush hunting strategy along the margins of the Schöningen
paleo-lake. In this regard, Schöningen 13II-4 provides the first
undisputed evidence for hunting of a single prey species that can be
studied from an in situ, open-air context. The Schöningen hominins
likely relied on cooperative hunting strategy to target horse family
groups, to the near exclusion of bachelor herds. Horse kills occurred
during all seasons, implying a year-round presence of hominins on the
Schöningen landscape. All portions of prey skeletons are represented in
the assemblage, many complete and in semiarticulation, with little
transport of skeletal parts away from the site. Butchery marks are
abundant, and adult carcasses were processed more thoroughly than were
juveniles. Numerous complete, unmodified bones indicated that lean meat
and marrow were not always so highly prized, especially in events
involving multiple kills when fat and animal hides may have received
greater attention. The behaviors displayed at Schöningen continue to
challenge our perceptions and models of past hominin lifeways, further
cementing Schöningen's standing as the archetype for understanding
hunting adaptations during the European Middle Pleistocene.
Well, that doesn't sound like diving for shellfish.

Hm, how you think people started to eat meat? Eating bone marrow? I
(and this document) wouldn't say so. Shouldn't a shellfish, salty
shellfish, would be much better match?
They say that they hunted horses by ambush. 80 % of lion prey are
zebras, also hunted by the way of ambush.
If they were there all year round, why would they move? This implies
sedentary lifestyle.
If they preferred fat, wouldn't pigs be a better choice? Of course,
here we are talking about plains, hence horses, no pigs, but if they
preferred fat, this would mean that their original food would actually
be pigs, and here they are hunting horses because there are no pigs on
plains. And piglets can be easily eaten burnt by setting their nest on fire.

[JTEM]

Horse (Equus mosbachensis) remains dominate the
assemblage and suggest a recurrent ambush hunting strategy along the
margins of the Schöningen paleo-lake.

I like the ambush hunting but, aren't we talking about throwing
spears?

I have long argued that throwing spears vanished from the
archaeological record BECAUSE they took to ambush hunting...

People ambush hunt today. If you look you can even find videos
of them doing it, though not for the squeamish as we are speaking
of videos of hunting.

I always assumed that they'd just find a watering hole and/or
game trail, sit up high in an overhanging tree limb and then
stab down on the first animal that wanders by. But I have seen
videos wear hunters, modern hunters, lurk in the underbrush &
stab at an animal from there. Effective? Yes. But not so much
when talking about a dangerous animal. A Wild Boar, for
example, would likely have torn their leg apart for havign
stabbed them... and a bear either runs or kills you.

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by JTEM

Horse (Equus mosbachensis) remains dominate the assemblage and
suggest a recurrent ambush hunting strategy along the margins of the
Schöningen paleo-lake.

I like the ambush hunting but, aren't we talking about throwing
spears?
I have long argued that throwing spears vanished from the
archaeological record BECAUSE they took to ambush hunting...
People ambush hunt today. If you look you can even find videos
of them doing it, though not for the squeamish as we are speaking
of videos of hunting.
I always assumed that they'd just find a watering hole and/or
game trail, sit up high in an overhanging tree limb and then
stab down on the first animal that wanders by. But I have seen
videos wear hunters, modern hunters, lurk in the underbrush &
stab at an animal from there. Effective? Yes. But not so much
when talking about a dangerous animal. A Wild Boar, for
example, would likely have torn their leg apart for havign
stabbed them... and a bear either runs or kills you.

Wild boars are the most dangerous animals. Once, a German natural
researcher made a documentary about who is the most fearsome animal in
Indian jungle. Tiger takes third spot. A pack of wild dogs takes the
catch from tiger, because they are a bunch. So, wild dogs are the
second. But wild boars are a bunch with formidable tusks, they scare a
pack of dogs away, so they are the first.
Of course, when humans came to Australia they met giant lizards.
Scientists agree that humans could fight those lizards only with fire.
With fire you can fight every animal, especially animal that has fur.
And also, you can feed well by eating piglets which are i nests, by
burning those nests. Piglets will remain in the nest, they will not run out.
Here we are talking about Neanderthals. Neanderthals didn't throw
spears, they thrust spears.

[JTEM]

        Wild boars are the most dangerous animals. Once, a German
natural researcher made a documentary about who is the most fearsome
animal in Indian jungle. Tiger takes third spot. A pack of wild dogs
takes the catch from tiger, because they are a bunch. So, wild dogs are
the second. But wild boars are a bunch with formidable tusks, they scare
a pack of dogs away, so they are the first.

A sword or spear for boar hunting would typically have a cross bar to
keep any animal you stabbed from running up the shaft & mauling you.

Wild Boars are extremely aggressive even TODAY, but they would have been
far more so back before they were constantly breeding with feral pigs.

        Here we are talking about Neanderthals. Neanderthals didn't
throw spears, they thrust spears.

I think the belief is that we're speaking of Heidelberg Man here, and
the spears are described as throwing spears.

According to the latest dating these are even close to the earliest
examples. These really may have been invented for spear fishing, the
adaptation being their use for terrestrial hunting.

That's just speculation as is nearly everything, only I am aware of
this fact while the dogmatists seem to think they hold established
fact.

Anyway, the dynamics of traveling through water & air are the same,
so spears like this may have been invented for spear fishing.

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by JTEM
I think the belief is that we're speaking of Heidelberg Man here, and
the spears are described as throwing spears.

I believe that the latest research says that H.heidelbergensis is
ancestor of Neandterthals, and not of H.sapiens. It had large brain, so
a lot of those stupid scientists really *wanted* that he would be the
ancestor of H.sapiens, but this was just a wishful thinking, and the
product of wrong preconceptions, nothing more.
Of course, things are, probably, much more complex, but we can safely
group H.Heidelbergensis and Neanderthals together, and exclude H.sapiens
from this grouping.
The search of the document for the words "throw" or "thrust" gives
only one sentence: "The final death blows likely came at close range
with spears thrown over a short distance or with thrusting spears."

[JTEM]

        I believe that the latest research says that H.heidelbergensis
is ancestor of Neandterthals, and not of H.sapiens.

Well considering that the H.s. in the "Out of Africa" nonsense is itself
an African population of Eurasians, they're one and the same.

Heidelberg man has been placed in Africa by paleo anthropology in the
past.

It had large brain,
so a lot of those stupid scientists really *wanted* that he would be the
ancestor of H.sapiens, but this was just a wishful thinking, and the
product of wrong preconceptions, nothing more.

He was the ancestor, in so far as any one species could be. Heidelberg
man was "an" ancestor.

        Of course, things are, probably, much more complex, but we can
safely group H.Heidelbergensis and Neanderthals together, and exclude
H.sapiens from this grouping.

At it's surface, I can't see how. We see a fairly modern group pre
dating any so called "Modern," many claiming to have spanned Europe and
Africa... there's no way it wasn't an ancestor.

        The search of the document for the words "throw" or "thrust"
gives only one sentence: "The final death blows likely came at close
range with spears thrown over a short distance or with thrusting spears."

It's been a while since I read up on the finds, and the newer the claims
the more bullshit, but are they saying to have found thrusting spears?

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by JTEM

         The search of the document for the words "throw" or "thrust"
gives only one sentence: "The final death blows likely came at close
range with spears thrown over a short distance or with thrusting spears."

It's been a while since I read up on the finds, and the newer the claims
the more bullshit, but are they saying to have found thrusting spears?

Well, the spears were, either thrust, or thrown over a short distance.
Thrusting spear you can throw over short distance, throwing spears you
can just throw (it means, long distances). I can hit somebody's head
with a chair, by breaking it onto his head, or by throwing chair over
short distance. Everything can be hit over short distance, they wouldn't
mention short distance if they were using throwing spears, which can be
thrown over long distance. So, the spears were definitely thrusting, and
it is known that this is the way Neanderthals used their spears.

[JTEM]

        Well, the spears were, either thrust, or thrown over a short
distance. Thrusting spear you can throw over short distance, throwing
spears you can just throw (it means, long distances). I can hit
somebody's head with a chair, by breaking it onto his head, or by
throwing chair over short distance. Everything can be hit over short
distance, they wouldn't mention short distance if they were using
throwing spears, which can be thrown over long distance. So, the spears
were definitely thrusting, and it is known that this is the way
Neanderthals used their spears.

I'll rephrase the question:

The claim is in no uncertain terms that throwing spears were found. My
question is if they are also claiming to have found thrusting spears?

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by JTEM

         Well, the spears were, either thrust, or thrown over a short
distance. Thrusting spear you can throw over short distance, throwing
spears you can just throw (it means, long distances). I can hit
somebody's head with a chair, by breaking it onto his head, or by
throwing chair over short distance. Everything can be hit over short
distance, they wouldn't mention short distance if they were using
throwing spears, which can be thrown over long distance. So, the
spears were definitely thrusting, and it is known that this is the way
Neanderthals used their spears.

The claim is in no uncertain terms that throwing spears were found. My
question is if they are also claiming to have found thrusting spears?

I didn't read the whole document. In that sentence that I showed you,
it is obvious that they found thrusting spears, because you cannot
thrust throwing spears, but you can throw a short distance thrusting
spears. So, those spears were, either thrust, or threw a short distance.
Since you cannot thrust throwing spears, but you can throw a short
distance thrusting spears, it is obvious that we are talking about
thrusting spears.

[JTEM]

        I didn't read the whole document. In that sentence that I
showed you, it is obvious that they found thrusting spears, because you
cannot thrust throwing spears

Of course you can.

The only potential differences, really, is that throwing spears
generally had sharpened points, instead of stone points. They
just sharpened the end of the shaft.

But of course there's nothing stopping them from afixing stone
points, and sharpened ends is probably better suited to spear
fishing than taking down a horse.

A horse is going to run quite some distance before dropping from
a sharpened stick...

Stone blades are knives that work back & forth as an animal runs,
enlarging the wound.

[Mario Petrinovic]

Post by JTEM

         I didn't read the whole document. In that sentence that I
showed you, it is obvious that they found thrusting spears, because
you cannot thrust throwing spears

Of course you can.
The only potential differences, really, is that throwing spears
generally had sharpened points, instead of stone points. They
just sharpened the end of the shaft.
But of course there's nothing stopping them from afixing stone
points, and sharpened ends is probably better suited to spear
fishing than taking down a horse.
A horse is going to run quite some distance before dropping from
a sharpened stick...
Stone blades are knives that work back & forth as an animal runs,
enlarging the wound.

Thrusting spears should be more robust, hence more heavy. The lighter
the spear, the further you can throw it. So, this one you can throw only
short distance, it is heavy thrusting spear. Just like you said, in
throwing spears it is important that stony point makes wound. In
general, animals that are living north have thick fur. This isn't good
for throwing spears, you have to thrust the spear into an animal
(whether it has stony point, or not).