This shows they understood the nutritional value of diverse foods and likely adapted their diet based on the environment. Neanderthal toolmaking was highly advanced. The Levallois technique they used required forethought: shaping a core stone so flakes could be removed in a single, planned strike. Their tools included scrapers, points, and blades used for hunting, preparing hides, woodworking, and cutting plant materials. They also crafted simple bone tools and may have made string or cordage—an innovation that would show sophisticated motor skills and cognitive abilities.
The question of whether Neanderthals possessed symbolic thinking—art, language, rituals—has been a major focus of modern research. Red ochre pigments found at some sites may have been used for body decoration or artwork. Possible carvings, simple engravings, and decorated objects have been uncovered in cave contexts. Several burial sites suggest deliberate placement of bodies, sometimes accompanied by tools or animal bones.
