Faunal exploitation at the elephant hunting site of Lehringen, Germany, 125,000 years ago

The site of Lehringen (Germany) has played a pivotal role in the study of the hunting behavior of Neanderthals. The finding of a 2.38 m long wooden thrusting spear was at the time of discovery in 1948 the only complete Palaeolithic hunting tool, dating back to the last interglacial, approximately 125 ka. The interrelation of the thrusting spear with the skeleton of a straight-tusked elephant has both been interpreted as direct evidence of hunting, or as a coincidental association. Here we report on results of the first systematic analysis of the faunal assemblage of the site including the remains of the straight-tusked elephant. Cut marks on several ribs and vertebrae of the elephant show that the animal was defleshed and probably eviscerated in a rather fresh state, indicating early access to the carcass by Neanderthals. Additionally, remains of aurochs, brown bear, and beaver show signs of butchery. It demonstrates that Neanderthals of the last interglacial at the northern limits of their known distribution were exploiting a wide range of animals on different occasions, including the largest prey of that time. In conclusion, Lehringen represents the most convincing Neanderthal site with evidence of a successful elephant hunt with a thrusting spear and demonstrates opportunistic hunting behavior during the Eemian.