Early humans may have survived harsh winters more than 400,000 years ago by slowing down their metabolisms and hibernating for months, fossil experts reveal. The fossils dating back 400,000 years to early Neanderthals or their predecessors, show months of interrupted bone growth. Experts based their conclusions on fossils recovered from Spain's Sima de los Huesos cave, which translates to 'the pit of bones'. The ancient mass grave in Atapuerca, near Burgos in northern Spain holds some of the world's most important palaeontological treasures. Scientists who studied bones found the pattern of lesions consistent with lesions found in bones of hibernating mammals, including cave bears.

Source: Daily Mail December 20, 2020 13:30 UTC