What does "subsistence" mean in the context of Neanderthal life?

In the context of Neanderthal life, "subsistence" refers to the means by which they supported themselves, focusing on survival and meeting their basic needs for food, shelter, and safety. The correct interpretation highlights that subsistence is primarily about maintaining a lifestyle that enables an individual or group to survive at a minimum level, often relying on hunting, gathering, and foraging.

Neanderthals thrived in varying environments, but their subsistence strategies reflected the necessity to adapt to resource availability, climatic conditions, and competition for food. This approach is evident in their tools, hunting techniques, and social organization, all of which were geared towards efficiently gathering the resources needed for survival.

Understanding subsistence in this way underscores that while Neanderthals were capable and resourceful, their primary focus was not on excess food storage or large-scale agriculture, both of which represent more complex societal developments that evolved later with modern humans. The emphasis on survival and sustaining oneself underlines the challenges they faced in their environments and the strategies they developed to meet those challenges.