The child who lived: Down syndrome among Neanderthals?
2024
Conde Valverde, María De Las Mercedes | Quirós Sánchez, Amara | Diez Valero, Julia | Mata Castro, Nieves | García Fernández, Alfredo | Quam, Rolf M. | Carretero Díaz, José Miguel | García González, Rebeca | Rodríguez García, Laura | Sánchez Andrés, Ángeles | Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis | Martínez Mendizabal, Ignacio Manuel | Villaverde Bonilla, Valentín | Universidad de Alcalá. Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida | Unidad Docente Antropología Física
10 p.
Show more [+] Less [-]Caregiving for disabled individuals among Neanderthals has been known for a long time, and there is a debate about the implications of this behavior. Some authors believe that caregiving took place between individuals able to reciprocate the favor, while others argue that caregiving was produced by a feeling of compassion related to other highly adaptive prosocial behaviors. The study of children with severe pathologies is particularly interesting, as children have a very limited possibility to reciprocate the assistance. We present the case of a Neanderthal child who suffered from a congenital pathology of the inner ear, probably debilitating, and associated with Down syndrome. This child would have required care for at least 6 years, likely necessitating other group members to assist the mother in childcare.
Show more [+] Less [-]Cátedra de Otoacústica Evolutiva (HM Hospitales- Universidad de Alcalá)
Show more [+] Less [-]Agencia Estatal de Investigación
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