The child who lived: Down syndrome among Neanderthals?
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Publication Date
6-28-2024
Publication Title
Science Advances
Volume Number
10
Issue Number
6
Abstract
Caregiving for disabled individuals among Neanderthals has been known for a long time, and there is a debate about the implications of this behavior. Some authors believe that caregiving took place between individuals able to reciprocate the favor, while others argue that caregiving was produced by a feeling of compassion related to other highly adaptive prosocial behaviors. The study of children with severe pathologies is particularly interesting, as children have a very limited possibility to reciprocate the assistance. We present the case of a Neanderthal child who suffered from a congenital pathology of the inner ear, probably debilitating, and associated with Down syndrome. This child would have required care for at least 6 years, likely necessitating other group members to assist the mother in childcare
Document Type
Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn9310
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Conde-Valverde, Mercedes; Quirós-Sánchez, Amara; Diez-Valero, Julia; Mata-Castro, Nieves; García-Fernández, Alfredo; Quam, Rolf; Carretero, José Miguel; García-González, Rebeca; Rodríguez, Laura; Sánchez-Andrés, Ángeles; Arsuaga, Juan Luis; Martínez, Ignacio; and Villaverde, Valentín, "The child who lived: Down syndrome among Neanderthals?" (2024). KIP Articles. 10232.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/10232
