A new study reports evidence that Neanderthals used rhinoceros teeth as tools, based on finds from the Middle Paleolithic Payre site in France’s Rhône Valley. Researchers began the “RINO project” after noticing unusual marks on rhinoceros teeth recovered from the site. The analysis focuses on fossil rhinoceros teeth associated with the Payre deposits, which are dated to roughly 250,000 to 130,000 years ago. According to the study, the pattern of wear and marks on the teeth aligns with use as implements rather than natural damage alone, providing what the authors describe as unprecedented evidence for tool use involving rhinoceros teeth. While the available reporting emphasizes the significance of the marks as an indicator of human modification and use, it does not describe alternative interpretations in detail in the summaries provided. Overall, the findings connect a specific archaeological context in France with physical evidence on animal remains, suggesting Neanderthal groups employed rhinoceros teeth as tool components.