Danish archaeologists from Aarhus University in Copenhagen studied the role of beavers in the lives of Stone Age people living in what is now the Netherlands. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Holocene
Excavations in the Netherlands, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic Region and Russia have shown that the Northern Hemisphere’s largest rodents provided an important source of meat and fur for hunter-gatherers in the Middle and Late Stone Age, and their bones and teeth were used as woodworking tools.
Scientists have found that ancient humans also benefited from the ecosystems created by beavers. Their dams brought more fish, waterfowl, and some plants into the beavers’ habitat. Such sights attracted the attention of wild boars and other animals.
“Beavers add a lot of dynamism to the forest, which is good for biodiversity. In archaeological sites where many beaver tracks were found, tracks of otters, wild boars, pike, perch and carp were also found. These species thrive in the ecosystem created by beavers,” said the study author. Natalie Brusgaard.
Archaeologists reminded that the beaver became extinct in the Netherlands in the 19th century and reappeared in the country’s forests only in 1988. Researchers have called for learning to take advantage of the resilient ecosystems created by beavers.
Previous scientists I learnedIt turns out that Neanderthals hunted the most dangerous predator in Eurasia during the Paleolithic period.