Night Capture of Roosting Cave Birds by Neanderthals: An Actualistic Approach

Evidence is accumulating on the regular and systematic Neanderthal exploitation of birds. However, motivations, mechanisms, circumstances underlying this behavior remains little explored despite their potential implications ecology capabilities. Fossil choughs ( Pyrrhocorax , Corvidae) are among most abundant in cave sites with Mousterian technology. We reviewed evidence showing that Neanderthals processed for food, confirmed it occurred frequently over a widespread spatial temporal scale. This lead us to propose hypothesis cave-like refuge keystone resource connecting captured at night rocky shelters eventually used by both species. By adopting an actualistic approach, we documented patterns use population dynamics communally roosting choughs, strategies technology currently capture them, behavioral response against experimental human predators night. Actualistic experiments showed large numbers can be without highly sophisticated tools regularly periodically, due occupation year-round during long-term periods same nocturnal shelters, constant turnover individuals, high site tenacity these roost-sites even after recurrent disturbance predation. Captures bare hands further facilitated because tend flee confused into cavity darkness when dazzled cornered (experimental) predators. Given extreme difficulty daylight chough capturing open country, hunting help fire caves consumption situ proposed as plausible explanations strong association fossil assemblages. Night birds has social, anatomical, technological, cognitive capacities Neanderthals.