115,000 years ago, Neanderthals were already obsessed with 'seasonal cooking.' The evidence is in a cave in Murcia

A study of shells from Murcia’s Cueva de los Aviones suggests Neanderthals collected mollusks mainly from November to April.

Oxygen isotope analysis points to very limited gathering in summer, indicating a clear seasonal pattern.

The finding supports the idea that Neanderthals planned their diet and used resources strategically.

It challenges the notion that only Homo sapiens had the cognitive ability to organize food collection by season.