Story perspectives

Neanderthals Hunted Giant Elephants, New Findings Reveal

3/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Lehringen bones in Germany reveal Neanderthals hunted large game, with a 2.3-meter spear embedded in a 125,000-year-old straight-tusked elephant.
Initial excavations after the 1948 discovery were poorly documented, leading to doubts about the findings over the years.
In 2025, Ivo Verheijen uncovered butchery marks on the bones, indicating Neanderthals hunted and processed animals.
The project aims to preserve the Lehringen bones and highlight their significance for understanding Neanderthal behavior.

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Story summary

The Lehringen bones in Germany reveal Neanderthals hunted large game, with a 2.3-meter spear embedded in a 125,000-year-old straight-tusked elephant.
Initial excavations after the 1948 discovery were poorly documented, leading to doubts about the findings over the years.
In 2025, Ivo Verheijen uncovered butchery marks on the bones, indicating Neanderthals hunted and processed animals.
The project aims to preserve the Lehringen bones and highlight their significance for understanding Neanderthal behavior.