Posted on Jul 1, 2024
Neanderthals cared for 6-year-old with Down syndrome, fossil find reveals
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A 6-year-old Neanderthal child had Down syndrome, a new analysis of an oddly shaped ear bone found in a cave in Spain suggests.
The finding is the first known case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals, our closest human relatives that lived in Eurasia from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. The fact that the child, nicknamed Tina, lived into early childhood suggests that her Neanderthal group cared for her, providing evidence that Neanderthals engaged in altruistic behavior.
"This child would have required care for at least 6 years, likely necessitating other group members to assist the mother in childcare," the researchers wrote in a new study, published Wednesday (June 26) in the journal Science Advances.
The finding is the first known case of Down syndrome in Neanderthals, our closest human relatives that lived in Eurasia from about 400,000 to 40,000 years ago. The fact that the child, nicknamed Tina, lived into early childhood suggests that her Neanderthal group cared for her, providing evidence that Neanderthals engaged in altruistic behavior.
"This child would have required care for at least 6 years, likely necessitating other group members to assist the mother in childcare," the researchers wrote in a new study, published Wednesday (June 26) in the journal Science Advances.
Neanderthals cared for 6-year-old with Down syndrome, fossil find reveals
Posted from livescience.com
Ancient History
Archaeology
Children
Science
Edited 3 mo ago
Posted 3 mo ago
Responses: 7
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Great share ma'am. When someone calls you a Neanderthal, wear it with pride. The people trying to insult like this don't realize Neanderthals were the top of the heap at the time so it would be a compliment; a statement like this says more about the person saying it. :)
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SGT Kevin Hughes
I alway wondered about the Neanderthal. They were bigger us, stronger than us, and had brains more than a third larger than us...so why didn't they win out in the Evolutionary Contest? "The Clan of the Cave Bear," a book by Jean Auel, gives a pretty good glimpse into their lives, and imagines that since they couldn't talk, they used sign language because of their much more prominent occipital lope. And they do interact with Cro Magnon ..as has since been documented by DNA.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT Kevin Hughes - Sounds like an interesting read.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clan_of_the_Cave_Bear
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clan_of_the_Cave_Bear
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SGT Kevin Hughes
It was Sarge, she was an Anthropologist by Training, so she got a lot of the detail correct. And built a believable world around her premise.
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Lt Col Charlie Brown
SFC (Join to see) - it was an interesting read...I went through the series but the first book was the best one.
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This is really eye opening. These fossil records shows us they were much more emotional and caring than we previously thought. I will proudly wear 'Neanderthal' if I get called this again as it means I'll care for the less fortunate like they did.
There are human civilizations who didn't do this. He'll, Iceland wouldn't do this right now.
There are human civilizations who didn't do this. He'll, Iceland wouldn't do this right now.
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