For many years, Neanderthals were often depicted as primitive and lacking the complex behaviors associated with modern humans. However, archaeological findings have increasingly challenged this view, leading many researchers to believe that Neanderthals engaged in intentional burial of their dead. This practice signifies a notable shift in understanding their cognitive abilities and social structures. The question of why archaeologists hold this belief is central to appreciating the depth of Neanderthal culture and their place in human history.
Defining Intentional Burial
Archaeologists employ specific criteria to differentiate intentional burial from accidental death or natural accumulation of remains. A primary indicator is the presence of a deliberately excavated pit or grave, which suggests a conscious effort to inter the body. The position of the body within this pit also provides clues, with flexed or supine positions often indicating careful placement rather than random deposition. Furthermore, the excellent preservation of skeletal articulation, where bones remain connected as they would in life, suggests rapid burial that protected the remains from scavengers and natural disturbance.
The inclusion of items alongside the deceased, known as grave goods, offers another strong line of evidence for intentional burial. These can include stone tools, animal bones, or even natural elements like pollen. Such items suggest a deliberate placement with symbolic or practical intent. Distinguishing intentional burial from “funerary caching,” which is the practical removal of remains from living areas to prevent disease or attract predators, relies on these combined indicators of deliberate action and care.
Archaeological Evidence for Neanderthal Burials
Evidence supporting Neanderthal burial practices comes from several archaeological sites across Europe and the Middle East. One of the earliest and most influential discoveries was at La Chapelle-aux-Saints in France in 1908, where the nearly complete skeleton of an adult male Neanderthal was found in a deliberate pit, approximately 30 cm deep. The body was interred in a flexed position, surrounded by flint tools and animal bones, indicating careful placement and rapid covering. This finding suggests that the Neanderthal individual was placed in a pit dug by other members of their group.
Shanidar Cave in Iraq has yielded remains of ten Neanderthal individuals. Shanidar 4, an adult male, was found in a partially flexed position, and early interpretations suggested a “flower burial” due to clumps of ancient pollen. While recent research suggests the pollen might have been introduced by bees, not flowers, the deliberate placement of the body in a channel, which was intentionally deepened, still points to intentional interment. The repeated use of the cave for burials suggests its importance.
Kebara Cave, Israel, revealed a nearly complete Neanderthal skeleton (Kebara 2) dated to around 60,000 years ago. The body was laid on its back, likely in a dug grave, and its state of preservation, without carnivore marks, indicates rapid burial. Although the skull was absent, the preservation of the hyoid bone, linked to speech, provided insights into Neanderthal biology. Findings at Kebara and Amud Cave demonstrate a pattern of intentional burial in the Levant.
Amud Cave contained the skeleton of Amud 1, a young adult male found in a flexed position. The site also yielded the partial skeleton of an 8- to 10-month-old Neanderthal baby (Amud 7), which had a red deer maxilla placed on its pelvis, interpreted as a grave offering. These findings provide strong support for purposeful burial. The presence of associated artifacts, body positioning, and evidence of deliberate excavation across these sites collectively form the foundation for the belief in Neanderthal intentional burials.
Distinguishing Neanderthal Practices from Earlier Hominins
The evidence for intentional burial among Neanderthals appears more consistent and robust compared to earlier hominin groups. Before Neanderthals, clear and widespread evidence of deliberate mortuary practices is scarce. While some sites, like Sima de los Huesos in Spain, show accumulations of hominin remains dating back approximately 400,000 years, the intentionality of burial in these earlier contexts remains a subject of ongoing debate. More recently, findings from the Rising Star cave system in South Africa have suggested that Homo naledi, a small-brained hominin, might have buried their dead between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago. This evidence includes bodies placed in deep cave chambers and engravings on cave walls.
However, the systematic nature and apparent care observed in Neanderthal burial sites set them apart. The recurring patterns of body positioning, grave preparation, and occasional grave goods in multiple Neanderthal sites suggest a more established and widespread practice. In contrast, early Homo sapiens in Africa, while demonstrating some mortuary behaviors, often buried their dead outside of caves or under cave entrances, unlike Neanderthals who typically interred remains within caves. This distinction highlights a unique aspect of Neanderthal funerary behavior, suggesting a level of intentionality and ritual not as consistently observed in other hominin species before them.
Interpreting the Significance of Neanderthal Burials
The belief that Neanderthals intentionally buried their dead has implications for understanding their cognitive abilities and social structures. Such practices indicate a capacity for complex thought, including foresight and planning, necessary for preparing a grave and placing a body. The care evident in these burials, particularly for the injured or infirm, like the adult male at Shanidar Cave who lived with disabilities, suggests a degree of empathy and social support within their groups. This contrasts with earlier perceptions of Neanderthals as purely brutish and lacking in compassion.
The act of burial may also point to an awareness of death and perhaps even a belief system concerning the afterlife, though the specific meaning behind these actions is still debated among archaeologists. The presence of grave goods could signify symbolic behavior or a desire to equip the deceased for a journey. These findings suggest that Neanderthals possessed cognitive and symbolic capabilities that were not significantly different from those of early modern humans. The continuity in burial practices between Neanderthals and early modern humans further supports the idea of shared cognitive sophistication between the two groups.