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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Skull Hints at Caveman Compassion

Skull suggests ancient humans cared for sick

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(Newser) – Scientists have pieced together the skull of an ancient human who appears to have been deformed, but survived to at least age 5—suggesting he or she was cared for in spite of the handicap. That’s evidence for the existence of compassion in early humans, a trait other primates don’t show, Wired reports. The discovery points to a branching-off in human evolution up to half a million years ago.

But one anthropologist says the finding may tell us little. While other species may not care for sick adults, they do care for their infirm young, he notes: “I’m not saying their interpretation is unreasonable, but we’re trying to do science, so we have to ask, ‘How would we know that we were wrong?’”

A reconstructed skull suggests ancient humans showed compassion.
A reconstructed skull suggests ancient humans showed compassion.   (Shutterstock)
A 1973 paper said macaque monkey mothers cared for blind babies.
A 1973 paper said macaque monkey mothers cared for blind babies.   (Shutterstock)
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We'd love to know things like when does caretaking begin? ... So far, though, those behaviors don't leave clear, unambiguous records. - Stanford anthropologist David DeGusta

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3 comments
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SPH
Mar 31, 09 3:22 PM CDT
It's a pity there appears to be so little compassion in modern humans.... Reply
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Derni
Mar 31, 09 6:09 PM CDT
This theory from finding one skeleton-I think you're reading a bit too much into the find. Maybe the person was kept alive for other reasons. Reply
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Mad
Mar 31, 09 7:08 PM CDT
Twisted! I like it
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