Evidence of Ancient Human Butchery on Lehringen Elephant Bones
Image Credit: VOLKER_MINKUS
In the backroom of the distinguished Schöningen Research Museum in Germany, a collection of mismatched cardboard boxes reveals archaeological treasures. Discovered in Rehringen, a village located 150 kilometers away, these boxes hold invaluable artifacts.
In 1948, researchers uncovered 125,000-year-old bones from the Paleoloxodon antiquus species in the bed of an ancient lake at Rehringen. While elephant bones from this period are somewhat common, this particular find included a 2.3-meter-long spear lodged between the ribs, marking a significant archaeological milestone.
This yew spear, identified as the oldest complete spear ever discovered, provides powerful evidence suggesting that Neanderthals were skilled big game hunters rather than mere scavengers. However, this remarkable discovery faced challenges. Alexander Rosenbrock, a dedicated school principal and amateur archaeologist, led the excavation, but a series of complications arose during the retrieval of the bones.
After digging began, a portion of the bones was improperly extracted before Rosenbrock and his team could arrive. Some bones were even reported stolen, and without a camera, he struggled to document their positions accurately. This led to a lengthy seven-year legal battle over the remains. Ultimately, Rosenbrock secured rights to keep the artifacts in Verden, where they unfortunately faded into obscurity before his passing in the 1950s.
Over the following 75 years, doubts lingered regarding the circumstances surrounding Rehringen’s find. Were the spear and bones simply coincidentally located together? Despite two examinations, researchers initially found no clear signs of butchery on the elephant bones.
The 1948 Excavation of Rehringen
Credits: Archives of the Cultural Heritage Office of Lower Saxony
Fast forward to 2025, Ivo Verheijen, Schöningen’s resident bone expert, began a meticulous examination of the Rehringen findings.
“We were informed there were just a few boxes,” Verheijen explained. “Upon arrival at the museum to collect them, we discovered numerous boxes piled in the attic!”
The Schöningen Center, located merely 300 meters from an active archaeological excavation site, has been operational since the mid-1990s. This site is notably home to 10 spears, around 300,000 years old, along with the Clacton and Rehringen spears, forming part of a limited collection of discovered spears from the Paleolithic era.
In 2017, the Schöningen team further solidified their expertise when they discovered a complete elephant. As a result, Verheijen was well-versed in handling ancient elephant bones before teaming up with Rehringen.
As Verheijen rummaged through the boxes, he uncovered a freshwater shell along with an excavation label, which intriguingly turned out to be an old 50 million mark banknote from the post-World War I inflation period. “It’s fascinating to have such unique labels,” he remarked.
This initiative resembled a cold-case investigation for Verheijen and his team. Thankfully, the collection comprised not only bones of elephants and other species but also invaluable records of Rosenbrock’s pioneering work, preserved and shared by his daughter Waltraut Deibel-Rosenbrock after his passing.
Verheijen quickly deduced that the Lehringen elephant had been intentionally slaughtered. “I immediately identified some distinct cut marks,” he stated. “It’s astonishing that these were overlooked for so long.”
Evidence of Cut Marks on Elephant Bones
Image Credit: Ivo Verheijen
The elephant, likely a solitary male standing over 3.5 meters tall at shoulder height, may have also been over 30 years old. It is suspected that he had been slaughtered both externally and internally, with organs removed shortly after death. This implies that the elephant likely perished with the spear embedded in its side, making the proximity of the bones and weapon no mere coincidence.
Neanderthals utilized flint tools to extract what they could from the carcass, leaving behind the rest for scavengers. While some bones showed signs of butchering, remains of bears, beavers, and aurochs were also discovered, indicating that Neanderthals frequently hunted and processed animals in proximity to the lake.
Verheijen speculates that modern elephants tend to move toward water when injured. Thus, after sustaining an injury from a spear, the elephant probably made its way towards the lake. This suggests that multiple spears may have been involved, and the hunters pursued the wounded creature until it collapsed, potentially breaking one spear in the process. The investigation will continue as the team plans to re-examine the spear.
Even at this early stage, the project has painted a vivid picture of what could be one of the most detailed Neanderthal hunting scenes ever documented.
Verheijen is also working diligently to preserve the Rehringen bones for future display. “This site holds great importance in Neanderthal history in Germany,” he emphasizes. “For reasons unknown, it has been largely forgotten, and our goal is to restore its rightful recognition.”
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