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Abstract: Evidence of Neanderthals using bear remains as retouchers is rare. In the sedimentary unit 5 of Scladina Cave (Belgium; Weichselian Early Glacial, MIS 5d to 5b), twenty-six bone retouchers have been discovered. Among these, six have been made from cave bear bones (four from a femur and two from two tibiae). The presence of lithic splinters, still embedded in grooves, can be convincingly associated with their function as knapping tools. Particularly interesting are six bone fragments, including four fragments used as retouchers and two unused splinters, which have been refitted together to reconstitute an almost complete cave bear femur diaphysis. These specimens present modifications in the form of cut marks, scraping marks, impact notches and typical fractures of percussions on green (fresh) bone, sometimes overlapping each other, that allow for a complete understanding of the operational sequence in the production of bone retouchers at this site. The identification of a sophisticated operational sequence, where each action succeeds another in the production of a bone tool, is a major argument in favor of predetermination that guided the Neanderthal actions, and is similar to that described for stone tool chaîne opératoire. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previous morphological and isotopic studies indicate that Late Pleistocene cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) diet ranged from mostly vegetarian to omnivory or even carnivory. However, such analyses do not provide information on seasonal diets, and only provide an average record of diet. A dental microwear analysis of 43 young and adult individuals demonstrate that, during the predormancy period, cave bears from Goyet (Late Pleistocene, Belgium) were not strictly herbivorous, but had a mixed diet composed of hard items (e.g., possibly bone), invertebrates (e.g., insects), meat (ungulates, small vertebrates), and/or plant matter (hard mast, seeds. herbaceous vegetations, and fruits). Therefore, our results indicate that cave bears at Goyet were generalist omnivores during the predormancy period, which is consistent with current data on the dietary ecology of extant bears during this season. These data also raise questions about the ecological role and causes of the extinction of cave bears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines several fossil bear bones from Upper Paleolithic deposits recovered from Belgian caves. The bones exhibit traces of ochre. The paper examines the archaeological and archaeozoological data in detail, comparing the finds with other sites containing fossil bear remains and identifying patterns suggesting purposeful staining of bear bones. These patterns are compared with ethnographic examples of bear ceremonialism. On the basis of similarities found in these analyses, the authors argue that a proto bear-ceremonialism existed during the Upper Paleolithic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]