Neanderthals 'dived in the ocean' for shellfish

Neanderthals were free divers!

According to a new study published in the journal Plos One, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder lead by Paolo Villa claim Neanderthal's would dive for clams.

How would they know this? They studied clam shells gathered in the late 1940's in an Italian cave called Grotta dei Moscerini that was used by Neanderthals.

From examining these shells, the researchers were able to determine they were harvested underwater and not from the shoreline. Certainly the clams could have been gathered in shallow wading depths, but they believe many could have been harvested from deeper depths. 

"It's quite possible that the Neanderthals were collecting shells as far down as two to four meters," - Paola Villa

How about that, free diving Neanderthals.

FULL STORY HERE