Scientifica

Review Article

Evidence for the Paleoethnobotany of the Neanderthal: A Review of the Literature

Table 2

Ethnobotanical remains recovered from Neanderthal archaeological sites, including 26 families and 61 unique species. Taxonomic identifications have been updated to reflect the latest nomenclature. Note: “cf.” denotes an unconfirmed identification.
FamilyGenus, species & authorityPossible ethnobotanical useLocationCitation
AnacardiaceaePistacia atlantica Desf.Food—nutsKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
AnacardiaceaePistacia sp.Food—nutsDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
AnacardiaceaePistacia sp. Food—nutsTor Faraj, JordanHenry et al. [55, 56]
AnacardiaceaePistacia vera L.Food—nutsKebara Cave, IsraelLev and Kislev [50]; Lev et al. [47]
ApiaceaeFoeniculum vulgare Mill.Food—leaves; medicineKebara Cave, IsraelAlbert et al. [51]
ArecaceaePhoenix dactylifera L.FoodTor Faraj, JordanHenry et al. [55, 56]
ArecaceaePhoenix sp. FoodShanidar Cave, IraqHenry et al. [34]; Henry et al. [46]
AsteraceaeAchillea millefolium L.MedicineEl Sidron, SpainHardy et al. [33]
AsteraceaeAchillea sp.MedicineShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
AsteraceaeArtemisisa sp.Medicine—nutletsDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
AsteraceaeCarthamus sp.Medicine; dye plantKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
AsteraceaeCarthamus tenuis (Boiss. & Blanche) BorumMedicine; dye plantKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
AsteraceaeCentaurea sp.Possibly medicine/ritualShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
AsteraceaeCirsium ochrocentrum A. GrayFood—seeds; medicineKebara Cave, IsraelAlbert et al. [51]
Asteraceae Matricaria chamomilla L. MedicineEl Sidron, SpainHardy et al. [33]
AsteraceaeSenecio sp.Possibly medicine/ritualShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
BetulaceaeBetula sp.Medicine/utilitarianKonigsaue, GermanyGrünberg [59]
BetulaceaeBetula sp.Medicine/utilitarianCentral ItalyMazza et al. [63]
BoraginaceaeEchium angustifolium/judaeumFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
BoraginaceaeOnosma gigantea Lam.UnknownKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
BoraginaceaeOnosma orientalis (L.) L.UnknownKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
BrassicaceaeRaphanus raphanistrum L.Food—roots, herb—medicineKebara Cave, IsraelHardy [10]; Lev et al. [47]
Caryophyllaceaecf. Silene aegyptiaca (L.) L. f.MedicineKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
ChenopodiaceaeChenopodium murale L.MedicineKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Chenopodiaceae FoodDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
CupressaceaeJuniperus sp.Food/medicineDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
Cyperaceaecf. CyperusFood—tubersKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
CyperaceaeCyperus sp.Food—tubersKebara Cave, IsraelHardy [10]
CyperaceaeCyperus sp.Food—tubersTor Faraj, JordanHenry et al. [55, 56]
EquisetaceaeEphedra sp.Possibly medicine/ritualShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
Euphorbiaceaecf. Euphorbia aleppica L.UnknownKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
EuphorbiaceaeMercurialis annua L.MedicineKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeAstragalus echinus L.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Fabaceaecf. Scorpiurus muricatus L.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Fabaceaecf. Vicia narbonensis L.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeCicer pinnatifidum Jaub.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeHymenocarpos circinnatus (L.) Savi UnknownKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeLathyrus hierosolymitanus Boiss.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeLathyrus inconspicuous L.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeLathyrus sect. CicerculaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeLens sp.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaePisum fulvum/Vicia narbonensis/peregrinaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaePisum fulvum/Vicia palaestinaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeScorpiurus muricatus L.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeTrifolium sp.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia cuspidata/lathyroidesFood Kebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia ervilia (L.) Willd.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia laxiflora/tetraspermaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia lutea/sativa/sericocarpaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia palaestina Boiss.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia palaestina/sativaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia palaestina/villosaFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia peregrina L.FoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
FabaceaeVicia pubescens (DC.) LinkFoodKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Fabaceae Food—wild peasKebara Cave, IsraelBar-Yosef et al. [48]; Lev and Kislev [50]; Lev et al. [47]
Fabaceae FoodShanidar Cave, IraqHenry et al. [34]; Henry et al. [46]
FagaceaeQuercus sp.Food—acornsKebara Cave, IsraelLev and Kislev [50]; Lev et al. [47]
LiliaceaeBellevalia sp.Food—bulbKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
LiliaceaeMuscari sp.Possibly medicine/ritualShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
MalvaceaeAlthaea sp.MedicineShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
MalvaceaeMalva sp.MedicineKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
MoraceaeFicus carica L. Food—fig fruitsAmud Cave, IsraelMadella et al. [52]
Nymphaea Food—tubers, seedsSpy Cave, BelgiumHenry et al. [46]
OleaceaeOlea sp. Food Gorham’s Cave, GibraltarBarton et al. [57]
Palmae Food—palm greens and fruitAmud Cave, IsraelMadella et al. [52]
PinaceaePinus pinea L.FoodGorham’s Cave, GibraltarBarton et al. [57]
PinaceaePinus sp.Food/medicineDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
PoaceaeAegilops geniculata/peregrinaFood—grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
PoaceaeAvena barbata/wiestiiFood—grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Poaceaecf. Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv.Food—grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Poaceaecf. BromusFood—grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
Poaceaecf. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Food—grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
PoaceaeHordeum spontaneum K. KochFood—grainKebara Cave, IsraelHardy [10]; Lev and Kislev [50]; Lev et al. [47]
PoaceaeHordeum spontaneum/bulbosumFood—corms or grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
PoaceaeHordeum spp. FoodShanidar Cave, IraqHenry et al. [34]; Henry et al. [46]
PoaceaePhragmites sp.Food/otherTor Faraj, JordanHenry et al. [55, 56]
Poaceae Food—grainKebara Cave, IsraelLev and Kislev [50]; Lev et al. [47]
Poaceae Food—grainAmud Cave, IsraelMadella et al. [52]
Poaceae Food—grass seedsDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
Poaceae Food from multiple speciesGorham’s Cave, GibraltarHenry et al. [46]
Poaceae FoodEl Sidron, SpainHardy et al. [33]
Poaceae FoodLa Quina, FranceHardy [58]; Henry et al. [46]
Poaceae Food from multiple speciesAbri des Merveilles, FranceHenry et al. [46]
Poaceae FoodKulna Cave, MoraviaHenry et al. [46]
PoaceaeTriticeaeFoodShanidar Cave, IraqSolecki [72]
RubiaceaeGalium sect. Kolgyda Kebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]
UlmaceaeCeltis australis L.Food—endocarps and seedsDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
UlmaceaeCeltis tournefortii Lam.Food—endocarps and seedsDouara Cave, SyriaAkazawa [54]
VitaceaeVitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris Kebara Cave, IsraelLev et al. [47]