Neanderthal child with Down syndrome reveals the compassionate nature of ancient humans

A fossilized ear bone discovered in a Spanish cave has shed new light on the compassionate nature of Neanderthals, revealing that a Neanderthal boy with Down syndrome was cared for until the age of six. The find, which dates back at least 146,000 years, challenges the stereotype of Neanderthals as unsophisticated and brutal.

The bone was unearthed at the Cova Negra archaeological site in the province of Valencia in 1989, but was only recently identified as Neanderthal when researchers were reviewing the material. The child would have required constant attention due to severe hearing loss, balance problems, vertigo and muscle weakness, according to Mercedes Conde-Valverde, paleoanthropologist and lead author of the study.

The study, which did not include precise dating of the bone, suggests that the child's survival was likely due to the mother's reliance on the cooperation and support of other members of the group. This is particularly significant given the demanding nature of life in the Stone Age and the fact that Neanderthals were highly mobile, frequently moving from place to place.

Down syndrome, a condition caused by a partial or complete extra chromosome, has been known to exist in Homo sapiens for at least 5,300 years. However, this is the first known case of the disease in Neanderthals. The researchers identified the boy's condition based on a series of abnormalities in the structure of the inner ear, which are characteristic of Down syndrome.

The discovery supports the idea of ​​true altruism among Neanderthals, a concept that has been suggested by previous archaeological finds. For example, a Neanderthal man buried in Shanidar Cave in present-day Iraq was deaf and had a paralyzed arm and head trauma, but he lived a long time, suggesting that his group l 'had taken care Similarly, a Neanderthal skeleton known as the “Old Man of La Chapelle” had degenerative arthritis and may have been fed by other members of the group.

Conde-Valverde believes that care for the Neanderthal child with Down syndrome was probably not based on an expectation of reciprocity, but rather an instinctive and emotional response to ensure the child's survival. This finding underscores the similarities between Neanderthals and modern humans, particularly in our shared desire to care for the vulnerable.