The childhood of the Neanderthals was not as hard, short and dangerous as has been thought until now.
This is maintained by a team of archaeologists from the Center for Human Paleoecology and Evolutionary Origins and the Department of Archeology at the University of York in a study published in the Oxford Journal of Archeology .
For these experts, children of this species actually maintained strong emotional ties with their closest social group.
Archaeologist Penny Spikins, who coordinated the trial, notes that her childhood was subtly different from that of modern humans. Analysis of their burials suggests that children played an important role in the communities and that those who had fallen ill or had been injured were cared for for months or even years.
The bodies of the deceased also received particular attention, to the point that their graves are more elaborate than those of other individuals. Apparently, Neanderthals lived in relatively small and isolated groups, which could favor the development of emotional connections within them and shape their childhood in a particular way.
“Traditionally it has been maintained that childhood in this species was extraordinarily difficult, but this corresponds to a preconceived idea that considers Neanderthals inferior and that their inability to protect their young is one more sign of their decline,” says Spikins.
“The challenges they faced in their childhood are no different from those faced by modern humans in the Paleolithic or even those still living in hunting communities in very cold parts of the globe today. There is a fundamental difference between a harsh childhood and a childhood lived in a harsh environment, ”he adds.
