Neanderthals’ Ancient Toolmaking May Have Unintentionally Pioneered Antibacterial Treatment

A sticky substance used by Neanderthals to create tools may have also served as a surprisingly effective, if unintentional, antibiotic. New research suggests that birch bark tar, created through a careful process of burning birch bark, possessed properties capable of fighting off bacterial infections, potentially including Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of skin infections. The findings, published March 18 in PLOS One, raise the possibility that Neanderthals benefited from the antiseptic qualities of this tar long before the advent of modern medicine.

Archaeologists have known for some time that Neanderthals utilized birch bark tar as an adhesive, applying it to secure stone tools to handles and shafts. The new study explores whether this widespread utilize might have had an additional, beneficial effect. Researchers are drawing parallels to the traditional medicinal uses of birch tar by other cultures, including Arctic Indigenous peoples who incorporate it into wound dressings and the Mi’kmaq people of eastern Canada who use birch bark extracts to combat skin infections. These traditional remedies have been shown to kill bacteria, including drug-resistant strains like MRSA. SciTechDaily reports on the study’s findings.

The Process of Creating Ancient “Glue”

Creating birch bark tar is not a simple process. According to Tjaark Siemssen, an archaeologist at the University of Oxford involved in the research, the process, known as pyrolysis, requires a gradual, controlled burn where oxygen is limited. “If oxygen gets in, the bark turns to ash,” Siemssen explains. The researchers replicated the process using three different methods, all aiming to create an airtight environment for the burning bark. One method, believed to be the one used by Neanderthals, involved burning the bark under a rock, allowing the vapors to condense into tar on the rock’s surface, which was then scraped off. Modern methods utilize tins to contain the bark, yielding a greater quantity of tar, but the resulting substance exhibited the same antibacterial properties regardless of the production technique. The process, Siemssen notes, is inherently messy, leaving residue on the skin.

Beyond Adhesion: A Potential for Wound Care?

The discovery prompts the question of whether Neanderthals were aware of the tar’s antiseptic properties and intentionally used it for wound care. Siemssen suggests that if Neanderthals were capable of producing the tar, they may have also recognized its healing potential. Such an antiseptic would have been a significant advantage in the harsh environment of the Stone Age, where injuries and infections were common threats. Evidence suggests Neanderthals had a broad understanding of their environment, with medicinal plants like yarrow and chamomile found at Neanderthal sites, and even embedded in their teeth. Birch tar could represent another natural remedy in their repertoire.

Uncertainties and Alternative Perspectives

However, not all archaeologists are convinced that the use of birch tar was directly linked to medicinal practices. Karen Hardy, an archaeologist at the University of Glasgow who investigates ancient ecologies, expresses skepticism. She argues that the use of birch bark as an adhesive doesn’t necessarily imply a concurrent understanding of its medicinal properties. Popular Archeology highlights this differing viewpoint. The Neanderthal environment was rich in various plants with potential antiseptic qualities, and Hardy suggests that attributing medicinal use solely to birch tar may be an oversimplification.

It’s important to note that the study demonstrates the potential for antibacterial activity, not definitive proof of intentional medicinal use. Establishing intent requires further evidence, such as direct evidence of tar being applied to wounds or tools specifically designed for wound treatment. The study’s limitations lie in the difficulty of reconstructing past behaviors and definitively determining Neanderthal knowledge and practices.

The Broader Context of Neanderthal Healthcare

Siemssen emphasizes that the world surrounding Neanderthals was a source of both technological and medicinal resources. This finding adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that Neanderthals possessed a more sophisticated understanding of their environment and its potential benefits than previously thought. While proving intentional healthcare practices remains challenging, the discovery of birch tar’s antibacterial properties provides a compelling piece of the puzzle.

Further research will likely focus on analyzing residue on Neanderthal tools and skeletal remains to search for evidence of birch tar use and potential medicinal applications. Sci.News provides additional details on the study’s methodology and findings.

The ongoing investigation into Neanderthal life continues to reveal a complex and resourceful species, challenging long-held assumptions about their capabilities and knowledge. The potential for unintentional discovery – finding that a toolmaking material also possessed medicinal benefits – underscores the importance of interdisciplinary research and a nuanced understanding of the past.