The Norwegian Museum at NTNU University presents an exhibit that seeks to show the intelligence, empathy and more human side of Homo neanderthalensis.
The word Neanderthal is often used as a slur referring to lack of intelligence or someone who is cognitively underdeveloped something that scientists believe may be far from the reality of the Homo neanderthalensis.
The first Neanderthal bones have been discovered in 1856, Neanderthal, Germany, Since then, scientists have dedicated themselves to studying and understanding how these beings behaved.
The exhibition “ Neanderthal ” in the NTNU University Museum in Norway , provided data on these hominids, not only on their intelligence, but also on their empathy and compassion for others and nature.
nothing stupid
According to research, Neanderthal man was a being intelligent, creative and compassionate, They moved in small groups, but they were very cooperative especially at the time of hunting, where they demonstrated to have advanced techniques when hunting large animals such as woolly mammoths and rhinos.
“They lived in small groups over a wide area for over 300,000 years,” says the archaeologist Trine Kellberg Nielsen responsible for the exhibitionNeanderthals » in the moesgaard museum Arthur, Denmark.
These hominids They dominated European territory for 300,000 years and died out 40,000 years ago. after the arrival of Homo sapiens of the African continent.
Despite its disappearance thousands of years ago, Kellberg notes that “The fact that they lived so long also shows us that they knew how to adapt to different environments. which was demonstrated through the remains of the shelters they built for themselves to protect themselves from cold winters and hot summers.
They took care of each other
The findings suggest that Neanderthals cared for the sick and injured in their communities, which would explain their survival for the thousands of years they inhabited the earth.
Kellberg mentions that “Neanderthal man found in 1856 he had broken his arm at some point. Although the fracture healed, it must have been hard for him to use his arm afterwards ”.
“The skeleton of an elderly Neanderthal man suffering from advanced gout has been found in France. He had lost most of his teeth but survived many years later . These are two examples indicating that Neanderthals cared for their sick, injured, and elderly, which tells us they were empathetic people. “, explained the archaeologist.
More human than thought
The gradual disappearance of Neanderthals after the arrival of Homo sapiens 60,000 years ago was a milestone in evolution, however, they left their mark on the earth, not only earthly, but also within ourselves.
And it is that we have more in common than we think, studies have shown that human beings have a 1.5% and 2.1% Neanderthal genetic material.
Moreover, a British study confirmed that at least 4,303 genetic variants that likely originated in Neanderthals are maintained and play an important role in modern man influencing 47 genetic traits.
This is because one of the possible reasons for the disappearance of these individuals, besides competition between predators, is the the mating that took place between Homo neanderthalensis And Homo sapiens which could have diluted its existence.
Another of the reasons studied for its extinction is the little variation in their genetic material which shows little ability to adapt to changes in its environment.
However, no one denies that they were a milestone in the evolution of modern man and that they were more human than thought.
Source: Latercera
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