This week, PBS airs "Caveman Cold Case", the latest episode of the long-running series Secrets of the Dead, featuring archaeological evidence of survival cannibalism by Neanderthals some 49,000 years ago.
Secrets of the Dead: WNET and PBS
"Caveman Cold Case" describes archaeological and paleoanthropological research at El Sidrón and Gorham's Cave, two Neanderthal sites that together provide insight into how good--and very bad indeed--life for Neanderthals could get.
I have to say Secrets of the Dead, the series which blends history and science for PBS, is on occasion a little over the top for starchy old me, a little over-emphatic maybe on the non-scientific aspects of the past. But it's always entertaining, and it is undeniable that the episodes make the connection between science and history come alive. "Caveman Cold Case" is an excellent example of communicating scientific research to the public, and I recommend it heartily.
El Sidrón Cave. Photo Credit: © Terra Mater Factual Studios/Photographer Ruth Berry/Bernhard Popovic
Secrets of the Dead: "Caveman Cold Case" premieres this Wednesday, May 15, 2013 on PBS. Check local listings
- Read the full review of Caveman Cold Case
- Read more about El Sidrón
- Or more about Gorham's Cave
Comments
How do archeologists know who actually did the cannibalizing?
Since Neanderthals became extinct, is it not possible that homo sapiens in fact cannibalized Neanderthals rather than Neanderthals cannibalizing one another?
Was it not Neanderthals who performed ritual and sentimental burials of their dead before modern homo? Is there also not evidence they cared for their injured or disabled? Does that not indicate a respect for their fellow beings that may have preceded that of their non-Neanderthal counterparts?
It may be that all species cannibalize their own when times are tough and death is the alternative. But how can anyone be sure that the demise of Neanderthals was not caused by the fact their non-Neanderthal contemporaries may have thought of them as not much different than any other mammals?
I still wonder if that is why Neanderthals became extinct. Cannibalizing other similar mammals not only provides food but also permanently eliminates competition for other food sources.
Hi:
Well, apparently it was not modern humans who in this case ate the Neanderthals, based on the tools left behind, and the fact that there were no humans living in northern Spain at the time.
The disappearance of Neanderthals has been attributed to a lot of things: and it probably was a lot of things, but the most recent theory is that they were genetically and physically swamped out. Neanderthals weren’t as prolific as we are, there were only about 50,000 of them living at one time, and they lived in small bands.
Really, you should watch the video for the latest info.
Kris
Well, I wonder Kris, are you saying that the stone tools found in this case are specifically recognized as neanderthal technology? What exactly do the tools found tell us about who ate who and how is it they tell us this? What did they find in the way of tools? How many? Were there specific tools from a specific core preparation that is unique to neanderthals? haven’t seen the program yet, I just wondered if you could shed a little more light on the artifactual evidence found?
I am anxious to hear!…….rick doninger