One way archaeologists learn how ancient people, including Neanderthals, did things is to attempt to do those same tasks themselves – a process called experimental archaeology. Normally, that involves making stone tools or butchering deer.

But in a new study, researchers had to get very destructive with teeth from one of the world's most protected animals: rhinos. The team suspected Neanderthals once used these formidable teeth as tools and by using them to make stone tools themselves, they demonstrated that it was indeed possible for Neanderthals to have done the same.

The suspicion grew when archaeological sites in Europe and Asia revealed more rhinoceros teeth than expected. We know Neanderthals hunted a now-extinct species of rhinoceros in Europe and eastern Asia, but these sites suggested that they were also collecting and using the teeth for some purpose.

Researcher Alicia Sanz-Royo and her colleagues needed to test this theory by trying their own bone-knapping on actual rhino teeth. However, getting those teeth was no easy task as rhinos are a threatened species and trade in rhino parts is heavily regulated under international law.