Mystery Behind Neanderthals’ Usage of Tar Might Have Been Solved With the Discovery of a Hearth

A fire pit from 60,000 years ago has revealed the innovative techniques Neanderthals used to produce tar. Scientists determined that tar, derived from rockrose (Cistus ladanifer), was created in a layered fire pit designed specifically for this purpose. The tar was used to bind stone tools to wooden shafts, demonstrating resourceful adaptation to available materials. ...