The teeth of extinct rhinos, found in Spain and France, were likely used to shape stone tools

The narrow-nosed rhinoceros, Stephanorhinus hemitoechus , was common in Western Europe before going extinct about 40,000 years ago. There’s evidence that Neandertals ate them and used their teeth for a variety of purposes.

" data-large-file="https://www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/042426_JB_rhino_main.jpg?w=800">

The narrow-nosed rhinoceros, Stephanorhinus hemitoechus , was common in Western Europe before going extinct about 40,000 years ago. There’s evidence that Neandertals ate them and used their teeth for a variety of purposes.

DiBgd/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Neandertals may have had an unexpected tool in their kits: rhinoceros teeth.

Marks in fossil rhino teeth found in caves in France and Spain suggest they were once used as multipurpose, heavy-duty tools.…