Scientists from the University of Tübingen discovered that ancient humans began wearing bearskins to protect against the cold at least 300,000 years ago. The study was published in the Journal of Human Evolution.
The authors of the study examined traces in the bones of a cave bear found during archaeological excavations in Lower Saxony (Germany). Scientists discovered neat cuts on the animal’s paws. There is very little meat in this area, so the incisions are unlikely to have scald marks. The scientists assumed that these incisions were left when skin was removed from the animal.
The remains of wooden hunting weapons (throwing and barbed spears) and mammal skeletons were previously found in the same area. Earlier finds showed that people hunted here for meat, bone marrow and animal bones used to make tools.
The authors believe their findings prove that 300,000 years ago, animals were used not only for meat but also for fur. The use of bearskins was probably an important adaptation of ancient humans to northern climates.
Source: Port Altele
