Posted on 04/21/2011 8:06:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Evidence for a likely 50,000-year-old Neanderthal burial ground that includes the remains of at least three individuals has been unearthed in Spain... The deceased appear to have been intentionally buried, with each Neanderthal's arms folded such that the hands were close to the head. Remains of other Neanderthals have been found in this position, suggesting that it held meaning. Neanderthals therefore may have conducted burials and possessed symbolic thought before modern humans had these abilities... So far they have found buried articulated skeletons for a young adult female, a juvenile or child, and an adult -- possibly male -- Neanderthal... The three skeletons represent some of the best-preserved, and most methodically excavated remains of Neanderthals...
The Neanderthals were found covered together with rocks burying their remains. The researchers believe it's likely that other Neanderthals intentionally placed the rocks over the bodies from a height. While it cannot be ruled out that an accident killed the three individuals, the scientists believe that wasn't the case... Unburnt bones of two articulated panther paws were embedded in rock "in an area where the rest of the animal's skeleton was conspicuous by its absence notwithstanding its proximity to the human skeletons," the authors write...
The remains of six to seven other Neanderthals, including one baby and two juveniles, have also been excavated at the site. The tallest individual appears to have been an adult who stood around 5'1". Erik Trinkaus, a professor of physical anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, is one of the world's leading experts on Neanderthals... said a few dozen documented Neanderthal burials from Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia have already been documented.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
The Neandertal EnigmaFrayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
by James Shreeve
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Ask Obamna
The good news is that they have an afterlife. The bad news is that this is it.
It's called stoning. Were there any Paleomuzzies around then?
I’m just waiting to hear that the Neanderthals celebrated diversity, and granted equal rights to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and trans-gendered Neanderthals.
I’m also waiting to hear how the Neanderthals were “green” and took care of Mother Earth.
Heck, I bet the Neanderthals were even in favor of single payer healthcare plans to care for the ill Neanderthals.
SunkenCiv,
The general replies to such an interesting article must be disappointing, but you seem to plow ahead anyway
Here’s an alternative explanation.
In South Asia, upon the death of a person, they are cremated before the end of the day. That has to do with Buddhism, but, in that type of climate, dead flesh becomes disease ridden within a very short time. Even ignorant Neanderthals could witness what happens when a Neanderthal eats rotten flesh - better to burn or bury the corpse before bad things happen.
I generally skip reading a lot of replies, not least because GGG topics (by and large) generate most of my pings page replies, and they get lost quickly, I wind up having to check previous pages, and don’t always do so. But yeah, I take your point. :’)
Interesting.
Even lower animals mourn, why would Neanderthals be any different?
I read the comments at the article continuation. Some were intelligent. Once person complained about authoritarian type religion and said it was only a few thousand years old. I am currently reading a book written in 1988, called The Chalice & The Blade: Our History, Our Future, by Riane Eisler. I have only read a little bit and the chapter descriptions, but it seems to describe the difference between Partnership culture and Dominator culture. It goes back to Paleolithic and Neolitic culture which seemed to be oriented toward “The Goddess” and then proceeds to describe the warlike nomadic cultures which introduced “The Gods” and especially through the Abrahamic religions subjugated women almost totally. As I say, I have only begun to read it but it seems to cover a lot of interesting territory, some of which I was not aware of, like the Kurgan invasions of central Europe from the Russian steppes around 4300/4200 BC and 3000/2800 BC. This was apparently a major period of imposition of the God religion. I remember seeing an article many years ago in National Geographic describing the excavation of a 50 foot high village mound in the Danube area. The pottery from 5 or 6,000 BC was light and bright and whimsical. Later pottery from around 3000 BC was very well formed, but dull and drab in color. At the time, I remember thinking, “Gee, what disaster happened here?” Now seeing this book I imagine slaving women (I am guessing most pottery was produced by women) producing this later pottery with no joy or imagination present.
:’D
Strange, though, how “anatomically modern humans” who “emerged in Africa” left behind nothing like this, as far as is known. :’)
I guess the idiot who made that claim about recent origin of authoritarian type religion has NEVER SEEN A PHOTO OF THE GIZA PYRAMIDS. (pardon my shouting)
The reference I was making was to the invasion of Kurgan and other central Asian types around 3 and 4,000 BC, definitely in the time frame or prior to the Giza pyramids. Check out the article on the Copper Age in Archaeology, March/April 2011. It seems when they swept in that change was radical and rapid.
Lots of tribes around the world have/had them.
Agreed. You are appreciated!
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