A groundbreaking study published in the journal Science Advances has shed new light on the compassionate nature of Neanderthals, as researchers uncovered evidence of a Neanderthal child with profound disabilities being cared for and supported by the community. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the extent of Neanderthals' empathy and highlights their ability to exhibit prosocial behaviors.

The research, conducted by Mercedes Conde-Valverde, Valentín Villaverde, and their colleagues, focuses on a child with severe inner ear deformities, likely caused by Down syndrome. The child, estimated to have lived beyond the age of six, represents the first known case of a subadult Neanderthal with such pathologies. The findings suggest that Neanderthals possessed the capacity for compassion and were willing to support individuals in need, even if they were unable to reciprocate the assistance.

While some theories propose that Neanderthal care may have been driven by transactional motives, where help was provided in anticipation of future assistance, the researchers argue that caregiving within the Neanderthal community was likely driven by genuine compassion. The child's disabilities would have significantly hindered their ability to contribute to the group in a reciprocal manner, making the selfless support they received all the more remarkable.

The child's disabilities, including severe hearing impairment, poor balance, and developmental delays, would have presented numerous challenges in their daily life. It is believed that their mother would have required assistance from the group to hunt, gather resources, and care for the child, reinforcing the hypothesis that collaborative parenting was practiced among Neanderthals as a complex social strategy.

The study also highlights the rarity of such cases, illustrating the unique circumstances under which this child was cared for. While other instances of Neanderthal care for adults have been identified, the limited number of Neanderthal remains discovered to date makes each case of compassion and support all the more extraordinary.

The research was conducted at the Cova Negra cave, located in the Valencia region of eastern Spain, which was inhabited by Neanderthals between 270,000 and 146,000 years ago during the Middle or Upper Paleolithic period. The child's remains were found among animal bones from a later time when both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens inhabited the area.

By demonstrating that this Neanderthal child with Down syndrome lived for at least six years, possibly longer, the study challenges the prevailing perception that individuals with such disabilities in prehistoric times had short life expectancies. It also raises intriguing questions about the potential origins of compassion in human evolution, suggesting that Neanderthals may have possessed a capacity for empathy which may have influenced the development of similar traits in modern humans.

While more research is needed to uncover the precise motivations and dynamics behind Neanderthal caregiving, this study adds a new dimension to our understanding of our ancient relatives. Neanderthals, who once roamed Europe and parts of Asia before their eventual extinction around 40,000 years ago, leave behind a legacy that includes not only genetic contributions but also a glimpse into their compassionate nature.