Neanderthal Children: New Study Reveals Surprising Similarities and Differences with Early Modern Humans

Recent research sheds light on the lives of Neanderthals and early humans, revealing surprising similarities in child-rearing practices despite physical differences. A new study, analyzing the largest sample of Middle and Upper Paleolithic teeth to date, challenges previous assumptions about the relative stress levels experienced by Neanderthal children compared to those of early modern humans. The research, published in *Scientific Reports*, focused on analyzing dental enamel hypoplasia, which reflects periods of systemic stress during childhood. While previous studies provided contradictory results due to sample size and methodological limitations, this new research offers a more comprehensive assessment. The findings suggest a surprising lack of substantial difference in overall childhood stress levels between the two groups. However, the study did reveal notable differences in the timing of stress events during the weaning process, suggesting that Neanderthals may have faced a more prolonged and stressful weaning period for their children than early modern humans. This research provides valuable insights into the lives of our ancient ancestors and the challenges they faced in raising their offspring during the Paleolithic era.