New research published in L’Anthropologie reveals the burial practices of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic period in the Levant region of Western Asia. Conducted by Professor Ella Been of Ono Academic College and Dr. Omry Barzilai of the University of Haifa, the study analyzes 17 Neanderthal and 15 Homo sapiens burial sites.

A Neanderthal burial, cast. Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Credit: Gary Todd, via Flickr

The Levant, encompᴀssing modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, served as a critical crossroads during the Middle Paleolithic. Homo sapiens migrated from Africa to the region as early as 170,000 years ago, while Neanderthals arrived from Europe around 120,000 years ago. Remarkably, the two species began burying their ᴅᴇᴀᴅ roughly 120,000 years ago, making this practice one of their earliest shared cultural innovations.

Dr. Barzilai said: “The simultaneous appearance of burials in both populations suggests a shared cultural origin or parallel innovation.” However, the researchers emphasize that these practices likely arose in response to local demographic pressures, as population densities increased with the arrival of both species in the resource-rich Levant.

The study identified several similarities in burial practices. Both species buried individuals regardless of age or gender, often accompanied by grave goods such as animal remains and stone artifacts. Wild goat horns, deer antlers, and red ochre were common in Homo sapiens burials, while Neanderthals included items like tortoiseshells and modified limestone.

Despite these shared elements, significant differences emerged. Neanderthals primarily buried their ᴅᴇᴀᴅ inside caves, using stones as positional markers or headrests. In contrast, Homo sapiens buried their deceased near cave entrances or rock shelters, often in a fetal-like position. Decorative items such as seashells were exclusive to Homo sapiens burials, reflecting a potential symbolic or aesthetic preference absent in Neanderthal contexts.

Professor Been elaborated on these distinctions, stating, “While Neanderthals and Homo sapiens share many aspects of material culture, their burial practices reveal unique cultural idenтιтies. For example, Neanderthals employed a variety of burial postures, while Homo sapiens displayed remarkable uniformity.”

Early Humans’ Burial. The National Museum of Natural History. Credit: Laura Blankenship, via Flickr

Interestingly, the researchers noted a “burial boom” during this period, with dense clusters of burials in the Levant compared to sparse burials in contemporary Europe and Africa. Improved climate conditions, such as increased rainfall and vegetation, may have drawn both populations to the region, intensifying compeтιтion for resources and prompting more frequent burials.

However, the practice of burials in the Levant ceased abruptly around 50,000 years ago after Neanderthals went extinct. Human burials did not reappear until the Natufian culture of the Late Paleolithic, approximately 15,000 years ago.

The simultaneous emergence of burial practices raises intriguing questions about the cultural evolution of both species.

Professor Been acknowledged this complexity, stating, “Burials are deeply tied to culture, and the reasons behind their sudden appearance remain unclear. Future research may uncover whether these practices stemmed from cultural exchanges, compeтιтion, or independent innovations.”

More information: Been, E., & Barzilai, O. (2024). Neandertal burial practices in Western Asia: How different are they from those of the early Homo sapiens? L’ Anthropologie, (103281), 103281. doi:10.1016/j.anthro.2024.103281