New Neanderthal footprints in Portugal reveal a life we never expected

The project is directed by Carlos Neto de Carvalho, a geologist and palaeontologist at IDL-University of Lisbon and scientific coordinator of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark, with contributions from Fernando Muñiz Guinea, a professor in the Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy and Agricultural Chemistry at the University of Seville. Researchers from institutions in Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Italy, Denmark and China also took part. Neto de Carvalho and Muñiz describe the work as an "interdisciplinary study on the ecological and behavioral analysis of the fossilized footprint record in southern Portugal."

Early Neanderthal footprints discovered on the Algarve coast

The earliest Neanderthal footprints known from Portugal were found in two Algarve locations: Praia do Monte Clérigo, where the geological layers date to about 78,000 years ago, and Praia do Telheiro, dated to roughly 82,000 years. At Monte Clérigo, researchers identified 5 trackways and 26 individual footprints created by adults and by children slightly over a year old on the slope of what was once a coastal dune. Praia do Telheiro revealed a single footprint attributed to either a teenager or an adult woman, found near fossilized bird tracks that are typical of rocky and coastal habitats.

Why footprints offer unique scientific insight

Neanderthal footprints preserve information that other archaeological remains, such as bones or tools, often cannot provide. Imprinted in sediments or sedimentary rock, they record a specific moment of activity and confirm the exact location where an individual stood or moved. Artifacts, in contrast, may be displaced or left behind long after their original use.

"Footprints record a specific moment, almost instantaneously, allowing us to reconstruct what was happening; for example, a group walk, a chase, a flight, or presence in a particular landscape. The footprints show how Neanderthals used space, how they explored coastal environments, forests, dunes or riverbanks, something that is difficult to infer solely from artifacts," explain Neto de Carvalho and Muñiz.

Reconstructing group behavior, movement and social structure

By studying the size and arrangement of the footprints, researchers can estimate how many individuals were present, the range of ages represented (children, adolescents, adults) and even potential task division within the group (e.g. a hunting party). Footprints left by infants and very young children, which are typically rare in the archaeological record, add valuable information about family groups and social organization. As the authors note, "footprints offer a unique and dynamic window into everyday behavior: a snapshot of life tens of thousands of years ago."

The trackways also show how Neanderthals moved through different types of terrain, revealing decisions about route selection, proximity to their base camp and possible hunting strategies. In one case, human footprints appear alongside deer tracks created at the same time, supporting the idea of pursuit or ambush activity within the dune environment.

Insights into Neanderthal diet along the Iberian coast

In addition to the footprint analysis, the researchers used ecological network analysis based on mathematical network theory to compare data from this site with other coastal archaeological locations in the Iberian Peninsula. These comparisons show that the Neanderthal diet in these regions relied heavily on deer, horses and hares, along with marine and coastal foods, pointing to a wide-ranging and adaptable approach to gathering resources.

These results reveal that Neanderthals living along the Atlantic coast were more flexible and environmentally skilled than previously understood. The study offers a detailed look at their mobility, behavior and social interactions, highlighting a level of ecological and cognitive adaptability that adds new depth to the story of Neanderthal life.