Research perspectives for the study of Neandertal subsistence strategies based on the analysis of archaeozoological assemblages

The discipline of archaeozoology holds the potential to considerably contribute to knowledge about the social behaviour of Neandertals. However, the translation of proposed subsistence strategies into predictions about Neandertal social organisation still remains a challenge. The paper discusses the current state of archaeozoological research with respect to Neandertal subsistence. It is concluded that the methodological research focus in archaeozoology has shifted from its original holistic perspective to intensified/specialised studies of particular taphonomic components. The authors argue for a return to a more holistic perspective to develop the full potential of archaeolozoology in order to obtain a comprehensive overall perspective of Neandertal social behaviour. Here, two avenues are suggested to reflate the processual character of taphonomy: 1. by conducting actualistic studies, which should serve to test the homogeneity of a faunal assemblage; and 2. by concentrating on sites from ecologically well-defined environments with high temporal resolution, such as interglacial sites.