Neanderthals Looked after the Sick and Elderly

Most people’s impression of the Neanderthals (H. neanderthalensis) are that these members of the human family, were thuggish brutes more ape-like than human but this is not true.  The fossilised remains of more than 275 individual Neanderthals have been found in Europe and western Asia and there is evidence of compassion and empathy in the Neanderthal and early human fossil record.

Examining Fossilised Remains

A team of researchers from the University of York (England), have examined the fossilised remains of early species of humans in an attempt to trace the origins of those very human qualities of humanity, compassion and empathy, traits that we ascribe to our own species but find it difficult to accept as potentially present in our more “ape-like” ancestors.

The archaeological record reveals that Neanderthals were excellent and highly skilled tool makers and very proficient hunters.  As a species, the Neanderthals existed for more than 300,000 years and although evidence for more, so called “characteristic” human behaviours such as language, art and religion is less clear there is some data to suggest a sophisticated and complex Neanderthal culture.  Certainly, there have been graves found with grave goods, hinting at death ceremonies and ritual burials, perhaps even some thought concerning an afterlife.  However, we look at it, the Neanderthals were extremely successful and very well adapted to their environment.

Neanderthals

Indeed, if a Neanderthal was dressed in modern clothes, given a shave and a modern haircut, they could travel on a London bus and nobody would be any the wiser that there was another species of human present.  Anatomically, there were differences, the long, low skull with the low and sloping forehead for example.  The prominent brow ridge and the large nose may have made a Neanderthal look slightly different from your average commuter but to most of us travelling on the bus, he or she would not have merited a second look.

A Model of a Neanderthal Man (CollectA)

Selecting a CollectA Neanderthal man figure for an Everything Dinosaur customer. A new study suggest that Neanderthals cared for the sick and elderly.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The picture (above) shows a model of a Neanderthal man from the CollectA Prehistoric Life model range.

To view this collection: CollectA Age of Dinosaurs Popular Models.

The Ancestry of the Human Genome

In May of this year, we at Everything Dinosaur published an article on the ten year study into the ancestry of the human genome, research carried out by the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology (Leipzig, Germany)  into the relationship between modern humans and Neanderthals.

To read more about this study: Shedding Light on our Closest Relatives – The Neanderthal in all of Us.

You can have a go at creating your own Neanderthal with a forensic, clay peg sculpture kit.  This kit enables model makers to recreate the face of real Neanderthal man that lived 50,000 years ago.

To view the extensive selection of prehistoric animal and dinosaur themed toys and gifts available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

The study carried out by the University of York suggests that groups of early humans living between 500,000 and 40,000 years ago took care of their sick or wounded.  The scientists discovered that a child with a congenital brain abnormality lived until at least five years of age and a Neanderthal with a withered arm, deformed feet and who was blind in one eye was cared for by the tribe for at least twenty years.

Studying Neanderthals

A life-size model of an old Neanderthal man is on display in the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann, Germany.

Dr Penny Spikins, of the University’s archaeological department and the lead author of the study stated:

“Compassion is perhaps the most fundamental human emotion. It binds us together and can inspire us, but it is also fragile and elusive.  This apparent fragility makes addressing the evidence for the development of compassion in our most ancient ancestors a unique challenge.  Yet the archaeological record has an important story to tell about the prehistory of compassion.”

A recent discovery of the fossilised, fragmentary remains of an elderly Homo heidelbergensis in Spain, also suggest that H. heidelbergensis cared for their sick and elderly.  Although this individual was elderly (at least 45 years of age) and had a spinal deformity that prevented him from hunting or carrying heavy loads he must have been given food by others in his group.

Perhaps, as a senior member of the clan he had a certain status and could provide valuable advice and hunting/gathering information to his group members.  A highly developed inner ear and a complex larynx suggests these early hominids may have had a language.

It seems the “human” qualities of compassion and caring for others may not be truly unique to our own species.  Contradicting natural selection in this manner (the survival of the fittest)  may have permitted early humans to gain an evolutionary advantage by developing strong ties and bonds to the group.

Chinese Academy of Sciences Announces New Genus of Coelophysoidea

A spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has announced that a new genus of meat-eating dinosaur (theropod) has been discovered in China.

The fossils of this new dinosaur were unearthed at Longshan, Lufeng county in the Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Chuxiong part of Yunnan province, last month.  Yunnan province is one of the most southerly of all China’s provinces, it borders Burma, Laos and Vietnam.

Professor Dong Zhiming, regarded by many as the world’s most successful dinosaur hunter of recent years, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, commented that this dinosaur was relatively small and lived approximately 180 million years ago.

This new dinosaur genus, which has yet to be formally named and described, was at least 1.2 metres in length and would have stood approximately 0.7 metres high.  It is a member of the Coelophysoidea; a clade of primitive, fast-running dinosaurs from the Early Jurassic.

An Illustration of a Typical Coelophysoidea Dinosaur

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Members of the Coelophysoidea clade, such as Coelophysis (pronounced see-low-fie-sis) were basal theropods.  They had long tails, “s”shaped necks and thin narrow jaws, that were lined with needle-sharp teeth.  These small, bipeds had four fingers on each hand (a primitive theropod dinosaur trait), although the smallest digit may have been vestigial.  Thanks to the discovery of more than 100 specimens at the world famous Ghost Ranch site (New Mexico), Coelophysis is perhaps, the best known, non-avian dinosaur.  A number of fascinating prehistoric animal fossils have been discovered at the Ghost Ranch location.

These have provided scientists with an insight into the rise and diversification of the Dinosauria.

To read more about the recent dinosaur discoveries from the Ghost Ranch site of New Mexico: New Theropod Sheds Light on Early Dinosaur Diversification.

The finding of a relative of Coelophysis in southern China, will help scientists to piece together more information on how dinosaurs evolved and spread around the globe.

Professor Zhiming commented:

“The discovery of the new dinosaur might promote research on the classification and evolution of dinosaurs in China.”

The Chinese scientists intend to study the fossil bones for a little while longer, before officially naming and describing this new dinosaur.

For models and replicas of Early Jurassic dinosaurs including Coelophysis (whilst stocks last): Wild Safari Dinos and Models.