Neanderthals and early humans show distinct burial practices in new study

A new study reveals that Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens had different burial practices. Neanderthals typically buried their dead in caves, while early modern humans buried theirs outside or at cave entrances, often in a fetal position. Researchers analyzed 17 Neanderthal and 15 early H. sapiens burials from 35,000 to 120,000 years ago in Western Asia. Both groups buried individuals of all ages and included grave goods, but Neanderthals used various positions for their dead, unlike the consistent fetal position of early H. sapiens. The study suggests both groups may have begun burying their dead around the same time in the Levant region. This finding challenges previous beliefs about the origins of burial practices and indicates potential cultural exchanges between the two groups.