Neanderthals Used Birch Tar as Ancient Antibiotic | Wound Healing Discovery

A sticky substance produced from birch bark, long used by Neanderthals for toolmaking, may have also served as a rudimentary antibiotic, according to a study published this month in the journal PLOS One. Researchers have found that birch tar exhibits antibacterial properties effective against Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacterium responsible for skin infections.

The findings stem from an investigation into the diverse uses of birch tar by our extinct human relatives. Archaeological excavations have consistently unearthed birch tar at Neanderthal sites, prompting speculation about its purpose beyond simply adhering stone tools to wooden shafts – a process known as hafting. “Birch tar has been documented at multiple Neanderthal sites and was likely produced in specialized hearths,” researchers noted in a report published by the Center for European Nuclear Research (CERN).

Tjaark Siemssen, a graduate student at the University of Oxford and lead author of the study, and colleagues recreated the process of birch tar production using methods likely employed by Neanderthals, including distilling the tar in clay pits and condensing it on stone surfaces. The process, they observed, is “a sensory experience in itself,” and removing the tar from their hands proved a consistent challenge.

The team extracted tar from modern birch tree bark, focusing on species known to have been present in areas inhabited by Neanderthals. Analysis revealed the tar’s effectiveness against S. Aureus, a bacterium that can cause a range of infections, from minor skin lesions to more serious illnesses. This discovery aligns with ethnographic evidence; indigenous communities in northern Europe and Canada have traditionally used birch tar to treat wounds.

The potential medicinal use of birch tar adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting Neanderthals possessed a more sophisticated understanding of their environment and healthcare than previously assumed. Recent studies have indicated they built tools, collected objects intentionally, and even created art. The new research suggests they may have also actively sought out and utilized plants with medicinal properties.

Although the exact method of application remains unknown, the antibacterial properties of birch tar offer a plausible explanation for its prevalence at Neanderthal sites. The study does not address whether Neanderthals understood the specific antibacterial mechanisms of the tar, only that its properties would have been beneficial in treating wounds and preventing infection. Further research is planned to investigate the full range of potential medicinal applications of birch tar and other naturally occurring substances used by Neanderthals.