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The thinking Neanderthals: What do we know about Neanderthal cognition?
1Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Cognitive Science
|August 27, 2015
Summary
Neanderthals possessed sophisticated cognition, including language capabilities, challenging previous assumptions. Their cognitive and biological closeness to modern humans allowed successful interbreeding and a lasting genetic legacy.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Cognitive Science
- Evolutionary Psychology
Background:
- Studying Neanderthal cognition presents challenges due to the archaeological invisibility of cognitive processes.
- Methodological issues arise from this invisibility and Neanderthals' close biological relationship to modern humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for Neanderthal cognitive sophistication.
- To assess the cognitive traits, such as language, displayed by Neanderthals.
- To evaluate the implications of Neanderthal cognition for human evolution and interbreeding.
Main Methods:
- Review of archaeological evidence.
- Analysis of cognitive proxies traditionally associated with modern human cognition.
- Comparative analysis of Neanderthal and modern human biology and cognition.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in gathering evidence on Neanderthal cognition.
- Neanderthals displayed cognitively sophisticated traits, including language.
- Evidence suggests Neanderthals were biologically and cognitively close to modern humans.
Conclusions:
- Neanderthals were cognitively sophisticated, possessing traits like language.
- While not definitively proven to be cognitive equals, Neanderthals were sufficiently similar to modern humans to interbreed.
- Neanderthals left a genetic legacy in modern human DNA due to successful interbreeding.
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