New research suggests that Neanderthals may have used sticky tar made from tree bark not just as a tool-making adhesive, but also as a medicinal substance to treat wounds, highlighting their surprising knowledge of natural remedies.
The study, led by Tjaark Siemssen from the University of Oxford, focused on birch bark tar a substance commonly found at Neanderthal archaeological sites across Europe dating back to the late Pleistocene period. While it has long been known that this tar was used to attach stone tools to wooden handles, researchers wanted to explore whether it also had medicinal properties.
To investigate this, scientists recreated birch tar using methods that would have been available to Neanderthals. They collected bark from species such as Betula pubescens and Betula pendula and produced tar using three techniques a structured heating method, a simpler condensation method, and a modern sealed-container process.
The resulting tar samples were then tested for antimicrobial properties. Most samples proved effective against Staphylococcus aureus, a microbe often responsible for skin infections. The strongest antibacterial effect was observed in tar made from silver birch using the more complex heating method.
Researchers found that even tar produced using simple, low-technology techniques similar to what Neanderthals might have used showed antibiotic effects. This suggests that Neanderthals could have unintentionally discovered the healing properties of birch tar through practical use.
The findings add to growing evidence that Neanderthals were more sophisticated than previously believed. Earlier studies have already shown that they consumed plants with medicinal qualities, such as yarrow and chamomile, and may have used natural remedies to treat pain, inflammation, and infections.
However, not all experts are fully convinced. Some researchers argue that while birch tar has clear medicinal benefits, producing it requires time and effort. They suggest that further evidence is needed to prove that Neanderthals intentionally made tar specifically for medical purposes rather than simply benefiting from its properties incidentally.
Still, the research challenges outdated perceptions of Neanderthals as primitive beings. Instead, it supports the view that they possessed a deeper understanding of their environment, experimenting with natural materials in ways that could have supported both survival and health.
The discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into early human innovation, suggesting that the roots of medicine may stretch back much further in human history than once thought.